Latest news with #Rozee
Perth Now
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
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.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Port stun Hawks in Gather Round grudge game upset
Port Adelaide have produced a near-perfect hour of football in an stunning 30-point upset of Hawthorn in Gather Round's grudge game. The unfancied Power raced to a 71-point lead in the second term in their 18.13 (121) to 14.7 (91) victory on Sunday night at Adelaide Oval. Hawthorn crashed to their first defeat of the season as Port's Zak Butters (33 disposals, eight clearances) and Connor Rozee (28, two goals) ran amok. Port's first-half onslaught created an astonishing 12.7 to 1.2 scoreline before a 47,671-strong crowd for the clash of the new-found fierce foes. Port coach Ken Hinkley fanned the rivalry flames last May in celebrating the Power's greatest escape, when Darcy Byrne-Jones soccered the winning goal with two seconds remaining. The fire escaped containment lines after their semi-final in Adelaide when the Power pipped the Hawks by three points. Hinkley taunted Hawthorn players post-game and was fined $20,000 by the AFL - a sanction which still has the Power privately fuming. WHAT IS HAPPENING AT ADELAIDE OVAL?!Rozee makes it SEVEN in a row for the Power 🤯#AFLPowerHawks — AFL (@AFL) April 13, 2025 The AFL grabbed the grudge and made it the Sunday night finale to another wildly successful Gather Round in Adelaide and surrounds. And the on-field theatre began with a Port bang: six goals to one in the first quarter. The Power's dual All Australian Butters - the AFL's most fined player - sparked a small melee and the pro-Power crowd repeatedly jeered Hawk captain James Sicily, who was central to last year's finals stoush with Hinkley. With ex-Magpie Jack Richards slotting two goals and setting up Mitch Georgiades for another, Port were slick in their 6.3 to 1.2 opening. But that proved a mere entree to Port's main course: a match-defining second-term feast of six consecutive goals. Power skipper Rozee, revelling in a new halfback role, twice drifted up-field to goal. And his teammates Sam Powell-Pepper and Willem Drew scored with remarkable snaps in Port's party which created a 71-point lead, 12.7 to 1.2. The hapless Hawks mustered two late goals to reduce their deficit to 59 points at halftime and were 47 down at the last change. Hawthorn made a belated five-goal charge to sneak within 22 points with eight minutes remaining. But Powell Pepper soon snapped accurately again and the fixture finished with a flashpoint. Port's Willie Rioli, running into an open goal, showed the ball to Hawthorn's Changkuoth Jiath before scoring. The Hawk promptly pushed Rioli over, triggering another melee - and a free kick to the Power forward who converted from the goal square. A late double goal for Willie Rioli as tensions rise once again.#AFLPowerHawks — AFL (@AFL) April 13, 2025 Port, now with a 2-3 win-loss record, were brilliantly led by Butters and Rozee, who starred with a strong support cast featuring Jason Horne-Francis (29 possessions), Drew (26, one goal) and Ollie Wines (26). And the Power attack fully exploited their plentiful supply, with Georgiades (three goals), Rioli (three), Powell-Pepper (two) Rozee, Richards and Jackson Mead (two goals) multiple scorers. Hawk midfielder Jai Newcombe (29 disposals, one goal) and skipper Sicily battled against the flow, while veteran Jack Gunston kicked six goals and ruckman Lloyd Meek scored two.
