Aliir Aliir’s 200th game may end with a huge migraine, while Jacob van Rooyen faces a possible holiday through suspension.
A groggy Aliir was helped off Adelaide Oval after copping a huge hit from van Rooyen in the dying stages of the first half.
Aliir was prone for some time before slowly being eased up, after being collected high by van Rooyen.
The Melbourne forward apologised immediately, but will likely face MRO scrutiny for his spoil gone wrong, leaping high in the air and loosely making heavy contact with his hand to Aliir’s head.
Van Rooyen was roundly booed by the Adelaide Oval faithful when he took a mark in attack, before receiving equally loud cheers when his shot slammed into the post as the half-time siren sounded.
That was a much better quarter from the Power, who stemmed some serious bleeding. The home side are well ahead in clearances (21-11) and inside-50s (29-25).
The four leading ball-winners on the ground – Ollie Wines (17 disposals), Joe Richards (15), Jason Horne-Francis (15) and Jase Burgoyne (14) – are all wearing Port colours.
But a lack of efficiency and smarts with the ball has let the home side down. Conversely, the Dees have looked infinitely more classy with footy in hand, while their pressure has forced Port to cough up the footy at key moments.
Melbourne lead 51-20 at half-time
