Gather Round - Wines out for Port Adelaide, Horne-Francis in, Setterfield in for Essendon. It's all about pressure and defensive transition for the Bombers, will they ever improve in that area. Gresham kicks the opener for Essendon, Rioli with the instant reply. Then Rozee with the smother and goal, before Gresham with his second, a nice snap on the angle. Ratugolea with a nice rundown, stopping a third for Gresham. Stringer goals from 50, Georgiades does the same. The Bombers with the run of play in the opening term, but find themselves down 3. Rozee with the rundown and gets the goal coming back, similar to the earlier play of his. The problem for Essendon and has been for some time, is when it goes the other way, how easy it is to turn it into a goal. Port kick away with Rozee slotting another around the body from distance and then they get another just before the half, the margin 35. More of the same for the Bombers... the Power winning by 69 points. The coach still won't address this issue or tactically attempt to do anything about it. Opposing players simply shouldn't be able run directly out the middle unopposed with no one coming at them, setting up inside 50. Essendon handily won the hit-outs, Port +9 in the clearances, the Bombers with more of the footy via handball, with 17 more tackles applied. The Power with 20 more inside 50's, for 14 more scoring shots and had good conversion. Rozee best afield, with 36 disposals, 5 clearances, 7 inside 50's, 657 metres gained and 3 goals. Horne-Francis 31 disposals, 10 clearances, 7 inside 50's, 624 metres gained and an assist. Houston 22 disposals, 20 effective, 6 inside 50's, 11 intercepts and 652 metres gained. Byrne-Jones 14 disposals, all effective, an assist and 3 straight goals.
3. (Port) C. Rozee, 2. (Port) J. H-Francis, 1. (Port) D. Houston.
3. (Port) C. Rozee, 2. (Port) J. H-Francis, 1. (Port) D. Houston.