AFL Comparison #12: Port Adelaide Power

The Power are the "younger" of the two clubs from the state of South Australia, specifically the seaport region of Adelaide. Though they won a title ten years ago, their recent resurgence is relatively unexpected, founded partly on a stiff defense, partly on a high-powered, fast-moving offense, and partly on their young dynamic stars like Chad Wingard, Robbie Gray, and Jay Schultz. Port went 11-1 to start the 2014 year after a surprising finals run the previous season...and then the wheels fell off. The Power finished 14-8 and were eliminated the week before the Grand Final; in 2015, despite still being one of the favorites to win it all, they failed to make the eight-team finals series (ending 12-10), and with similar expectations this year fell even farther, ending at 10-12 and in tenth place despite obvious talent which underperformed all season.

Their American counterpart: the Oregon Ducks

It's probably cheating to use an amateur team here, but unless you want me to use the Saskatchewan RoughRiders of the Canadian Football League (who went from competitive in the 2014 season and before to dead last in 2015 and fighting to stay out of ninth again this year with two games to play), the Ducks are the closest analogy I can come up with.

In 2014, as the Power were leading the AFL, the Oregon Ducks were on their way to the initial College Football Playoff championship game (losing to Ohio State). Last year, they fell off to 9-4, finishing with a bizarre 3-OT loss after leading 31-0 over TCU at the half in their bowl game. This season? Two wins and five losses at this writing (October 27), WINLESS in conference, and a shell of their former selves. More image than substance. Still symbolic of flash and power, still capable of dominating an opponent when that opponent's not top notch.

That's Port Adelaide, too.