Port's two week prep for Hawthorn clash - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Port's two week prep for Hawthorn clash

By Daniel Brettig 05/05/2008 06:29:24 PM Comments (0)

Port Adelaide are grateful for the extra time they have at their disposal to build a plan sufficient to unseat unbeaten Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium.

The Hawks have carried all before them in the opening seven weeks of the season, the latest victims being a Collingwood side that stuck close to Alistair Clarkson's team for most of the day yet still suffered a 10-goal beating.

Port have history on their side against Hawthorn, including at their Aurora safe haven, where Brett Ebert kicked the match-winning goal with seconds remaining late last season.

Ebert's mark and goal that day was the result of a frenzied run and long launch by Troy Chaplin, who is again impressing as a creative defender this year.

As the Power enjoyed a leisurely recovery from a comfortable defeat of Essendon, Chaplin said they would need to put it all together to get close to the Hawks.

"They haven't lost a game, have looked awesome all year and they and Geelong are the teams to beat," he said.

"We had a close one against Geelong (in round one), which a few of us thought we should've won, we've got a good record in Tasmania and we look forward to playing the good sides - we pride ourselves on our performance against good sides.

Like most clubs Port will spend the early part of this week at the disposal of their fitness staff as they micro-manage a program tailored to the Dream Team interruption.

But Chaplin said the extra time available to dissect Hawthorn would not go to waste.

"We'll probably talk about the game in the next couple of days," he said.

"I'm sure the coaches will have a lot of information for us. A couple of the guys went and watched them play on the weekend and they were super against Collingwood.

"Their last quarter was unbelievable and we know we'll have to have a four quarter effort."

Chaplin joined on the chorus of praise for Port's livewire forward and late Dream Team call-up Daniel Motlop.

"He's one of those players who can just turn it on ... sitting down in the back line, every time the ball went inside 50m and I saw what he was doing - it was just unbelievable," Chaplin said.

"It was just his day, (but) it was great for him.

"He's got that confidence and Choco (coach Mark Williams) rewarded him with a place in the Dream Team and it's fully deserved."

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