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Port Adelaide was abysmal in a 32-point defeat to reigning premiers Melbourne – and its woes were summed up perfectly by a staggering botched goal.
Ken Hinkley‘s men slumped to their fourth loss from as many starts this season in a 10.8 (68) to 4.12 (36) defeat that flattered the awful Power at the hands of the Demons at Adelaide Oval.
Port Adelaide scored just five points in the opening half to register its lowest-ever half-time total, while it was the first time in its history it had failed to kick a goal in the first half.
Port Adelaide also fell to a 0-4 start for the first time since 2008.
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The Power’s horrors were summed up in a matter of seconds when the hosts butchered a goal midway through the third quarter.
Young forward Mitch Georgiades streamed inside 50, took two bounces and tried to poke a kick through the sticks from the goal square, only for it to be knocked to the turf by Jayden Hunt.
Georgiades won the ball back and handballed to Sam Mayes, but he also flopped.
The 27-year-old kicked the ball through the sticks, but a desperate James Jordan claimed to have touched the footy and was proven correct by a video review.
Hinkley defended Georgiades in his post-match press conference.
“… he’s a learning player, he’s quite an exciting player, but he’s a player that still has much to learn,” Hinkley said.
“He’s a young player who hasn’t played much football at AFL level.
“I’m optimistic around Mitch Georgiades.
“If he’s our biggest problem I think we’re heading in the right direction.
“He gets opportunities every week to score. I think that’s a really, really significant point…”
Port Adelaide’s terrible night was compounded by the half-time exit of reigning Brownlow Medal winner Ollie Wines due to nausea.
Meanwhile, ruckman Scott Lycett was hampered by a sore shoulder, but he played through the final quarter.
Melbourne will meet GWS at the MCG next Saturday night, while Port Adelaide is set to square off with Carlton at the same venue the following day.
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