Power Surge Past Dees as Georgiades, Ratugolea Shine in Crucial Win
What a game we witnessed at Adelaide Oval this Sunday! If you tuned in expecting the usual midfield grind between Port Adelaide and Melbourne, this clash threw all expectations out the window. Instead of the standard midfield dominance, Port flipped the script with two standout bookends stealing the show: Mitch Georgiades up front and Esava Ratugolea down back. Their career-best performances helped Port pull off a vital 25-point win over the Demons, finishing 14.9 (93) to 9.14 (68).
Let’s start with Georgiades — the man was simply unstoppable. Slotting seven goals and four behinds, he turned it on against one of the league’s premier defenders, Steven May. That’s not just a solid game — it’s a statement. He dominated the air, found space repeatedly, and was clinical in attack. Even Power coach Ken Hinkley admitted, “Mitch kicked 7.4 and might not even have been best on ground.” That’s saying something when you put up numbers like that.
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Now, flip the field and meet Esava Ratugolea — Port’s defensive rock. He pulled in a massive 13 marks, the best of his career. His intercept work was exceptional, shutting down Melbourne's forward pushes and providing a strong launchpad out of defence. Hinkley praised Ratugolea for stepping up and overcoming self-doubt to deliver such a composed, confident game.
The midfield didn't disappear, though. Connor Rozee led with 32 touches, Zak Butters had 27, and Jason Horne-Francis contributed 29 before copping a shoulder knock. That midfield trio still did their job, but they were comfortably overshadowed by the brilliance at either end of the ground.
For Melbourne, it was a third straight loss and another game haunted by inaccuracy — 9.14 tells the story. Kysaiah Pickett showed glimpses of spark with three goals and continues to be a key part of Melbourne’s future after his recent contract extension. But overall, the Dees struggled to match Port’s intensity, especially in key moments.
Port now improves to 6-7 and suddenly finds itself knocking on the door of the top eight. A win like this, built on forward and defensive strength rather than midfield control, gives them something fresh to believe in. If they can string together a few more wins, the season is well and truly alive for the Power.
So yes, Sunday’s game wasn't typical — it was better. It showed us what happens when both ends of the field fire at once. Port Adelaide fans, you’ve got every reason to smile tonight.
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