AFL Ladder / Nick Tedeschi / 14 June 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now

Port Adelaide may be sitting on the fringe of the top eight but they are nothing but pretenders this season, writes Nick Tedeschi.

Port Adelaide are a team of pretenders. They are not legitimate title contenders and despite having one of the better lists in the AFL, they will most likely miss the finals for the second straight season.

Port Adelaide were destroyed by the Western Bulldogs in oppressive heat in Darwin on Saturday night, turning in an insipid display that saw the team who played in the 2007 Grand Final beaten by 93 points. A 93 point defeat in any situation is embarrassing but to lose by such a margin on neutral territory in such brutal conditions was pathetic, a display marked by a lack of courage and mental fortitude.

The Power conceded 84 points directly from turnovers against the Bulldogs. Supposed stars like Danyle Pearce (9 touches), Brett Ebert (9 touches) and Warren Tredrea (15 touches) offered nothing. Nine Port players had three-plus critical errors while the Power took only three contested marks all night. The display indicated a complete lack of fight, a willingness to give up when the going got tough.

Those who have followed the progress of Port Adelaide this season were not surprised.

The Power have won only once away from Footy Park all season with that win coming against a Hawthorn team decimated by injury in round four. Road losses have included a 50-point defeat to the 13th placed West Coast, a 57-point flogging against a Sydney team who struggles to kick goals, an embarrassing loss to the 12th placed Kangaroos and a 38-point loss to Collingwood at the MCG. On the road this year the Power are now 1-5 with an average margin of defeat of 48.6 points in those five losses.

Just as concerning is Port's inability to take it to good teams, home or away. Port have played two teams in the top four (St. Kilda and the Western Bulldogs) and been beaten by a cumulative score of 239 to 80. The two teams in the top eight that Port have beaten have both only a single match above even. Three of Port's wins have come against the bottom three teams.

The Power are flat track bullies and flat track bullies get found out when the going gets tough be it in terms of conditions or opposition. They cannot win the flag and they most likely won't be playing in September.