Port Adelaide Power v Adelaide Crows

PORT Adelaide star Dan Houston faces a lengthy finals-eve suspension for a high kick on Izak Rankine in his side’s 22-point win over arch-rivals Adelaide.

Tensions flared when Houston stretched Rankine by the jersey before the third quarter of the Power’s fiery 11.14 (80) to 8.10 (58) win at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

POWER v CROWS Full match coverage and stats

Rankine was eventually helped to his feet and wheeled off a concussion medical cart.

The high contact and damage to Rankine means Australian full-back Houston is likely to be sent straight to Tribunal, casting doubt on his participation in Port’s finals campaign.

Zak Butters (42 disposals, 10 disposals) and Connor Rozee (28, nine) starred as the Power locked in top spot with their victory, earning a double chance in the finals for the fourth time in five seasons.

The result also snapped Port’s three-game losing streak against the Crows and leveled the overall record between the South Australian rivals at 28-28.

Jason Horne-Francis was influential with 23 disposals, eight disposals and two goals, while Willie Rioli (three), Francis Evans and Darcy Byrne-Jones (two each) hit more majors.

Butters, Rozee, Ollie Wines and ruckman Jordon Sweet led Port to a convincing 52-38 win in the clearances.

Matt Crouch (29 touches), Jordan Dawson (26) and Rory Laird (24) were all busy for Adelaide as Rankine and Darcy Fogarty kicked two goals each.

Power fans mocked Josh Rachele after lighting the pre-match fuse on Adelaide radio when he claimed Port supporters “don’t have a lot of teeth” and were also angered by a number of one-sided free kicks – 7-1 at one stage – in the opening stages when the Crows led by two points at quarter-time despite Port’s clearance control.

A stoppage win through Sweet’s expert tap led to a brilliant Horne-Francis goal from the forwards’ pocket which opened the scoring in the second quarter.

Darcy Fogarty and Riley Thilthorpe kicked three consecutive Crows goals and led 6.6 to 4.9 at the main break.

A tight third quarter exploded as Houston collided with Rankine and Port kicked the only two goals of the term to snatch a two-point lead by the final change.

Willie Rioli and Jase Burgoyne both kicked field goal majors early in the final quarter to give the Power some breathing room and they were a class above when it counted.

Port have now won seven of their last eight games ahead of a finals round showdown with Fremantle at Optus Stadium, while Adelaide will finish their year against league leaders Sydney at the SCG.

Houston’s huge bump is causing problems
In an incident sure to attract the MRO’s attention, Power star Dan Houston is set to face several weeks on the sidelines after a bump during the third quarter knocked out Izak Rankine, leading to to a huge all-in match. A lengthy suspension could spell season-ending for the 27-year-old, who has been the subject of trade speculation.

Sshhhhhh….
Josh Rachele put a target on his back with a radio joke during the week about Port Adelaide supporters not having “a lot of teeth”. As if the Showdowns needed any extra spice, the comments certainly lit a fuse under many Power fans, including Round so far and SEN host Kane Cornes, who challenged Rachele to ‘take a hit’ on Saturday night. Although he wasn’t particularly prominent, the 21-year-old had his moment when he scored a great goal from 45 yards before running into the crowd and baring his teeth late in the second term.

PORT ADELAIDE 2.3 4.9 6.12 11.14 (80)
ADELAIDE 2.5 6.6 6.10 8.10 (58)

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Horne-Francis 2, F.Evans 2, Byrne-Jones 2, Rioli 2, Boak, Burgoyne, Butters
Adelaide: Rankine 2, Fogarty 2, Rachele, Thilthorpe, Hinge, Keays

BEST
Port Adelaide: Butters, Horne-Francis, Rosé, Wines, Burgoyne
Adelaide: Dawson, Crouch, Hinge, Laird

injury
Port Adelaide: Jones (Achilles pain)
Adelaide: Rankine (concussion)

SUBSTITUTE
Port Adelaide: Quinton Narkle (replaced Lachie Jones in the third quarter)
Adelaide: Zac Taylor (replaced Izak Rankine in the third quarter)

The crowd: TBC at Adelaide Oval