Crows predict fire, braced for Power surge in Showdown
Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson is braced for a strong response from Port Adelaide in the next instalment of one of the AFL's greatest rivalries.
The Power were dealt a 90-point humiliation by the Western Bulldogs in round eight, ending their three-match winning streak in brutal fashion.
It followed a 91-point thrashing from Collingwood in round one - the two heaviest defeats of coach Ken Hinkley's 13-year tenure.
But Port have made a habit of bouncing back from heavy losses in recent times and will be geared up for a huge Showdown in front of their home fans at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
Since the start of last season, the Power have responded to all four of their defeats by more than 40 points with a win the following week.
"We were in a similar position this time last week after the Freo game," Dawson said of Adelaide's 18-point loss in Perth, which the Crows followed with a 60-point burial of Carlton on Saturday.
"So we'll be very wary of Port responding.
"They always respond well, so it's going to be a great game.
"We respect them highly and we look forward to the battle this weekend."
Showdown 57 is the first meeting between the sides since last August's fiery encounter, which reached a flashpoint when then-Power star Dan Houston laid out Adelaide's Izak Rankine with a brutal high bump.
Houston, now with Collingwood, incurred a five-game suspension, ruling him out of Port's 2024 finals campaign and the opening round of this season.
Before the game, Adelaide's Josh Rachele and Darcy Fogarty stoked the fire with public comments about Port and their supporters.
Rachele notably took a swipe at Power fans by saying they have "no teeth" in a radio interview.
On Monday, Dawson and Port captain Connor Rozee played the straightest of bats when they fronted South Australian media.
Asked how they feel about their arch-rivals, both skippers said they "respect" the opposing side.
"They always have a bit of fire," Dawson said of the Adelaide derby.
"We might leave the build-up for (the media) but for us it's just about playing footy.
"No matter where the teams are on the ladder, it's always a good contest and we all love playing in them as well."
Rozee conceded not much went right for Port against the Bulldogs in Ballarat, where they conceded 18 goals to three after quarter-time.
But he wasn't dwelling on the result, insisting it's a long season.
"We've shown in the past that when we have a bad loss we're able to respond," Rozee said.
"That's because we stay tight as a group and listen to what Kenny says and what we need to do the following week.
"That will be the same approach this week."
Port's 22-point win over the Crows last August snapped a three-match losing streak against their arch-rivals and squared the all-time ledger at 28 wins apiece.
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ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Mollie O'Callaghan opens up on personal struggles during Australian Swimming Trials
Mollie O'Callaghan was the darling of Australia during last year's Olympic Games in Paris. She had beaten Australia's swimming queen Ariarne Titmus in her world record event, the 200m freestyle, one of three golds O'Callaghan won during the Games. However, things have not gone as planned since then. O'Callaghan freely admits she has struggled this year both in and out of the pool with injuries and other demons. She is still the fastest woman in Australia over 200m, proving that on night three of the Australian Swimming Trials with a strong win that included her customary kick over the final 50. But her time of 1 minute 54.43 seconds was more than 1.5 seconds slower than her personal best — the world record she held before Titmus took it. While it was her fastest time of the year, she was still disappointed. "I was a bit off today," she said on Wednesday night in Adelaide. "You know you get a bit anxious like everyone does, and I think I was just overthinking it. "I'm trying too hard not to think about the time, it's all about racing at the moment. "I think after the lead-up I've had over the past few months, to come back off a big break and injury and other little bits and bobs and personal stuff, I think I'm pretty proud of myself to show up behind the blocks and do that two-hundred." O'Callaghan said she was working on ways to find enjoyment in swimming after the high of the Paris Olympics, following the inevitable comedown after winning three gold medals. "After the Olympics I'd achieved everything I wanted to, and I needed that mental recovery after that," she said. "This year's about having fun, but there's been a lot of curveballs thrown at me, so it's making it very hard to have fun. "But I think making the team and having the pressure taken off, just to race and go meet new people, go have fun and train alongside my buddies overseas, which is the whole purpose of this." It has led O'Callaghan to ponder how she can balance having fun while being in a highly competitive environment, trying to qualify for the World Aquatics Championships. "That's something I'm still learning," said O'Callaghan, who earlier in the meet revealed she didn't have any friends outside of swimming. "At 21 years old, you're forever learning that. "You know we've been in this sport for a very long time when you get stuck down and you have to be so dedicated to each and every little thing where it's like you don't have a life outside of it. "This part is about discovering who I am outside of the pool. "But a part of me is trying to force myself to get back into the rhythm. But I think incredible people like Lani (Pallister) and Kaylee (McKeown) make it a lot more fun. "You know I put a lot of pressure on myself but externally a lot of people expect a lot out of me, but they don't really see the work that goes behind it or what I've been through." O'Callaghan's introspection and dissatisfaction mirror that of backstroke star Kaylee McKeown, who has won both the 50m and 100m backstroke events at these trials, but has been extremely disappointed with her times. "Mollie is so hard on herself," said Pallister, who finished second in the 200m freestyle final with a personal best time. "When she comes and stands here and talks about, I guess wanting the world record back, and wanting to be a 1:52, there's two people who have ever done that, and that's her and Ariarne. "So, as much as she says that it wasn't a good swim, she's just incredible with what she does and what she can do." Pallister, who won a gold medal in Paris as part of Australia's 4x200m freestyle relay team, said O'Callaghan's struggles are a reflection of the pressures Australian swimmers face. "This is going to sound really brutal, but I think sometimes people forget that these athletes are also people," Pallister said. "There's so much expectation put on Australian swimmers, and I think that shows. "Every four years we're expected to win multiple gold medals, and sometimes, if you don't race at your best, I guess it's almost [the] public and other people that bring you down. "But I think if you have a supportive group around you, it doesn't really matter what the rest of the world says," Pallister said. Cameron McEvoy said he also experienced the same comedown after winning gold in the men's 50m freestyle in Paris. "I definitely went through a pretty tough period," he said. "You go from your world being extremely tiny, where it's just swim, sleep, eat, and that's it. "And as soon as you touch the wall, it gets flipped upside down, and you've got the entire world trying to talk to you, and kind of the world opens up, and you're not swimming as much, and then you've got to come down emotionally." But the 31-year-old has 10 years more life experience than O'Callaghan, is now married and expecting his first baby. "Now digesting the marriage, digesting starting a family, that kind of put the whole swimming gig into comparison and it humbles the whole job here — makes me realise there's so much more to the world," he said. Unlike O'Callaghan, the physics and mathematics graduate was happy with his winning time in the men's 50m freestyle of 21.3 seconds — the fastest time in the world this year. McEvoy said he is swimming so well and consistently that even an average performance is enough to win at these trials, and there's more to come. "I definitely think I can go faster before the world champs," he said. "How much more, I'm not sure, but longer term — more LA (Olympics) levels to the future, I think yeah, there's a lot more I can improve upon." Teenage breaststroker Sienna Toohey followed up her 100m success by winning the 50m women's breaststroke final, but could not make the qualifying time for the World Championships. "I'm honestly very happy with it, the qualifying time is extremely tough," she said. "Last night was a good swim, got the qualifying time, hopefully they might put me in the 50 over in the worlds, maybe, who knows?" Toohey said she was prepared for the hype that followed her extraordinary swim on Tuesday night. "I knew that it was going to blow up like that. I saw a bit of popping up and then I was like, 'Well I can't get too full of myself,' so I put my phone on do not disturb and I haven't really been on it since then," she said. Sam Short continued his stunning form, taking out the men's 800m freestyle final in 7:40.95, to go with his win in the 400m and second place in the 200m. "It's going to be a battle in Singapore like it always is, we're like in a golden age of distance swimming at the moment," Short said. "I love racing, it's just so much fun, I love getting in there hurting, that's why I do it." In other results, Paralympic gold medallist Benjamin Hance set the fastest time in history in the S14 men's 50m backstroke event. His time of 26.09 seconds was recognised by VIRTUS Sport as a world record, but not an official world record as the event isn't raced at the Paralympics or Para World Championships.
The Advertiser
9 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Quite happily' - inductee played hard off the field
Imagine the reaction if Max Gawn was serving an AFL suspension and spent the new few days on a trip to Lord's to watch the World Test Championship. Australian Football Hall Of Fame inductee Peter Darley freely admits he wouldn't make it as a player now. Darley gave one of the all-time acceptance speeches at Tuesday night's annual induction dinner. While at times his comments drew an uncomfortable gasp from the audience at the Melbourne black tie function, he was the hit of the evening. His best among several memorable anecdotes was being suspended in 1972 while starring as a ruckman for SANFL side South Adelaide. He was also working in sales for the then-national airline TAA and that gave him first-class international plane tickets. So without his coach knowing, Darley flew to London to watch an Ashes Test. He was at Lord's when Australian bowler Bob Massie took 16 wickets on debut. He celebrated hard on the flight home, but soon after his return had to play Glenelg. "I must have turned on the gas and we went past Glenelg, but after three-quarter time I'd run out of gas and I called the bloody stretcher," he said. "Halfway off the ground the stretcher broke and I had to get up and walk off. "Football was something I did on a Saturday and fortunately I was able to get away with it. I wouldn't today, I tell you." Darley starred in South's most recent premiership, way back in 1964, under legendary coach Neil Kerley. "He had us running through sand hills and I said 'well, that's where I used to take my girlfriends'," Darley said. "He taught (us) how to play as a team, not only on the football field, but he also offered us the opportunity to play off the football field - which I took up quite readily and happily." In paying tribute to his fellow inductees, Melbourne great Garry Lyon was particularly taken with Darley. "I'd be happy to go on a footy trip with Peter Darley - I don't know who you are, Pete, but I like the sound of you,," Lyon said. While Darley and Lyon drew the laughs, AFLW greats Erin Phillips and Daisy Pearce brought the emotion with their acceptance speeches. They joined trailblazer Debbie Lee as the only women in the hall of fame. Phillips and Pearce paid tribute to Lee, while Phillips and her father Greg provided the highlight of the night. They are the first father and daughter to be hall of fame members, with Greg already inducted for his stellar playing career at Port Adelaide and Collingwood. "To Dad, I can't imagine how hard it would have been to tell your 13-year-old daughter that she couldn't play the game she loves any more," Phillips said, her voice breaking. "And 27 years later, she's standing next to you in the Hall of Fame." South Australian goalkicking machine Ken Farmer was elevated to legend status, while modern greats Nick Riewoldt and Luke Hodge were also inducted. Darley joined Tasmania's John Leedham and George Owens from WA as this year's historical inductees. There was a sense of sliding doors for Riewoldt and Lyon. Riewoldt was living on the Gold Coast when he was drafted to St Kilda. Another 26km closer to Brisbane, he would have been in the Lions' recruiting zone at the time. Lyon's father Peter played for Hawthorn, but not nearly enough to earn a father-son selection. Lyon never made a grand final at Melbourne and noted his career coincided with four Hawthorn premierships. "I haven't thought about it much," Lyon deadpanned, while also noting he had a "wonderful, wonderful time" at the Demons. Imagine the reaction if Max Gawn was serving an AFL suspension and spent the new few days on a trip to Lord's to watch the World Test Championship. Australian Football Hall Of Fame inductee Peter Darley freely admits he wouldn't make it as a player now. Darley gave one of the all-time acceptance speeches at Tuesday night's annual induction dinner. While at times his comments drew an uncomfortable gasp from the audience at the Melbourne black tie function, he was the hit of the evening. His best among several memorable anecdotes was being suspended in 1972 while starring as a ruckman for SANFL side South Adelaide. He was also working in sales for the then-national airline TAA and that gave him first-class international plane tickets. So without his coach knowing, Darley flew to London to watch an Ashes Test. He was at Lord's when Australian bowler Bob Massie took 16 wickets on debut. He celebrated hard on the flight home, but soon after his return had to play Glenelg. "I must have turned on the gas and we went past Glenelg, but after three-quarter time I'd run out of gas and I called the bloody stretcher," he said. "Halfway off the ground the stretcher broke and I had to get up and walk off. "Football was something I did on a Saturday and fortunately I was able to get away with it. I wouldn't today, I tell you." Darley starred in South's most recent premiership, way back in 1964, under legendary coach Neil Kerley. "He had us running through sand hills and I said 'well, that's where I used to take my girlfriends'," Darley said. "He taught (us) how to play as a team, not only on the football field, but he also offered us the opportunity to play off the football field - which I took up quite readily and happily." In paying tribute to his fellow inductees, Melbourne great Garry Lyon was particularly taken with Darley. "I'd be happy to go on a footy trip with Peter Darley - I don't know who you are, Pete, but I like the sound of you,," Lyon said. While Darley and Lyon drew the laughs, AFLW greats Erin Phillips and Daisy Pearce brought the emotion with their acceptance speeches. They joined trailblazer Debbie Lee as the only women in the hall of fame. Phillips and Pearce paid tribute to Lee, while Phillips and her father Greg provided the highlight of the night. They are the first father and daughter to be hall of fame members, with Greg already inducted for his stellar playing career at Port Adelaide and Collingwood. "To Dad, I can't imagine how hard it would have been to tell your 13-year-old daughter that she couldn't play the game she loves any more," Phillips said, her voice breaking. "And 27 years later, she's standing next to you in the Hall of Fame." South Australian goalkicking machine Ken Farmer was elevated to legend status, while modern greats Nick Riewoldt and Luke Hodge were also inducted. Darley joined Tasmania's John Leedham and George Owens from WA as this year's historical inductees. There was a sense of sliding doors for Riewoldt and Lyon. Riewoldt was living on the Gold Coast when he was drafted to St Kilda. Another 26km closer to Brisbane, he would have been in the Lions' recruiting zone at the time. Lyon's father Peter played for Hawthorn, but not nearly enough to earn a father-son selection. Lyon never made a grand final at Melbourne and noted his career coincided with four Hawthorn premierships. "I haven't thought about it much," Lyon deadpanned, while also noting he had a "wonderful, wonderful time" at the Demons. Imagine the reaction if Max Gawn was serving an AFL suspension and spent the new few days on a trip to Lord's to watch the World Test Championship. Australian Football Hall Of Fame inductee Peter Darley freely admits he wouldn't make it as a player now. Darley gave one of the all-time acceptance speeches at Tuesday night's annual induction dinner. While at times his comments drew an uncomfortable gasp from the audience at the Melbourne black tie function, he was the hit of the evening. His best among several memorable anecdotes was being suspended in 1972 while starring as a ruckman for SANFL side South Adelaide. He was also working in sales for the then-national airline TAA and that gave him first-class international plane tickets. So without his coach knowing, Darley flew to London to watch an Ashes Test. He was at Lord's when Australian bowler Bob Massie took 16 wickets on debut. He celebrated hard on the flight home, but soon after his return had to play Glenelg. "I must have turned on the gas and we went past Glenelg, but after three-quarter time I'd run out of gas and I called the bloody stretcher," he said. "Halfway off the ground the stretcher broke and I had to get up and walk off. "Football was something I did on a Saturday and fortunately I was able to get away with it. I wouldn't today, I tell you." Darley starred in South's most recent premiership, way back in 1964, under legendary coach Neil Kerley. "He had us running through sand hills and I said 'well, that's where I used to take my girlfriends'," Darley said. "He taught (us) how to play as a team, not only on the football field, but he also offered us the opportunity to play off the football field - which I took up quite readily and happily." In paying tribute to his fellow inductees, Melbourne great Garry Lyon was particularly taken with Darley. "I'd be happy to go on a footy trip with Peter Darley - I don't know who you are, Pete, but I like the sound of you,," Lyon said. While Darley and Lyon drew the laughs, AFLW greats Erin Phillips and Daisy Pearce brought the emotion with their acceptance speeches. They joined trailblazer Debbie Lee as the only women in the hall of fame. Phillips and Pearce paid tribute to Lee, while Phillips and her father Greg provided the highlight of the night. They are the first father and daughter to be hall of fame members, with Greg already inducted for his stellar playing career at Port Adelaide and Collingwood. "To Dad, I can't imagine how hard it would have been to tell your 13-year-old daughter that she couldn't play the game she loves any more," Phillips said, her voice breaking. "And 27 years later, she's standing next to you in the Hall of Fame." South Australian goalkicking machine Ken Farmer was elevated to legend status, while modern greats Nick Riewoldt and Luke Hodge were also inducted. Darley joined Tasmania's John Leedham and George Owens from WA as this year's historical inductees. There was a sense of sliding doors for Riewoldt and Lyon. Riewoldt was living on the Gold Coast when he was drafted to St Kilda. Another 26km closer to Brisbane, he would have been in the Lions' recruiting zone at the time. Lyon's father Peter played for Hawthorn, but not nearly enough to earn a father-son selection. Lyon never made a grand final at Melbourne and noted his career coincided with four Hawthorn premierships. "I haven't thought about it much," Lyon deadpanned, while also noting he had a "wonderful, wonderful time" at the Demons.
News.com.au
14 hours ago
- News.com.au
AFL Round 14 Predictions – Hawks vs Crows Star, Cats forwards to Fire & Lions Lift!
AFL Round 14 Predictions - Hawks vs Crows Star, Cats forwards to Fire & Lions Lift! | AFL Today Show - June 11, 2025 The AFL Today Show is here for all your Round 14 preview needs, covering every single game over the bye rounds with teams, stats, debates and tips for some blockbusters including Adelaide vs Hawthorn contender clash, Geelong forwards to feast and Brisbane vs GWS thriller! The panel full of banter chat about who will win each match, their locks of the week, forfeits and finish with big calls where close games are predicted and how Max Holmes, Marcus Bontempelli and Michael Frederick can fire for their sides! Get around the AFL Today Show brought to you by panelists Liam 'Stats Guy' McAllion, Leo Mullaly and Marcus Bazzano, as they talk out all things footy for the 2025 of AFL season! Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 2:00 St Kilda V Western Bulldogs 6:10 Brisbane V GWS 17:15 Essendon V Geelong 21:55 North Melbourne V Fremantle 27:12 Port Adelaide V Melbourne 30:50 West Coast V Carlton 33:50 Coleman Watch 37:22 Lock of the Week 38:33 Big Calls 40:36 Outro ðŸ'¨ðŸ'» AFL Today's Podcast Expert Panel: Alex Donnelly Liam 'Stats Guy' McAllion Leo Mullaly Marcus Bazzano Subscribe for weekly AFL analysis, predictions, and fan discussions. Follow AFL Today's Social Media Channels. Instagram: Tik Tok: X: Spotify: Apple Podcast: Be sure to check out our other shows: Cricket Today: @CricketTodayAU
