SUMMARY

It's the new kids on the block up against a side playing its fourth straight preliminary final. Port Adelaide has lost just once on its home patch this year, and the Power will take confidence from their earlier win over Richmond and qualifying final effort against Geelong. However, Richmond has been here before and started to hit their straps in the semi-final triumph over St Kilda, with Tom Lynch back from injury and reigning best and fairest Dion Prestia peaking at the right time.

WHERE AND WHEN: Adelaide Oval, Friday October 16, 7.20pm ACDT (local), 7.50pm AEDT
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide

WHAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR?

Round 11: Port Adelaide 13.15 (93) d Richmond 11.6 (72)
Port Adelaide outlasted an at times undisciplined Richmond outfit despite dominating much of the afternoon. The Power's double ruck act of Scott Lycett and Peter Ladhams received its biggest tick, while Travis Boak, Ollie Wines and Tom Rockliff won the midfield battle. However, the Tigers took in an under-strength line-up without Trent Cotchin, Shane Edwards, Dion Prestia and Bachar Houli.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Port Adelaide
Can the Power bring the heat they did against Geelong in the qualifying final? They'll need to apply the same pressure to disrupt the Tigers. Ken Hinkley's side held the Tigers to just 47 marks back in round 11 (their lowest tally of the season), and it should again be a focus to dominate possession and keep Richmond on the back foot. The Power also took their chances that day in a scintillating first half, scoring from 51 per cent of inside 50s, the third-highest percentage conceded by the Tigers all year. The Tigers were the No.1 team for marks inside 50 in the home and away season, and if the Power backs can limit Jack Riewoldt and Tom Lynch, they will have a big say on the outcome.

Richmond
The Tigers haven't lost to the same team twice in a season since the start of 2017, so how much do they learn from the round 11 loss to the Power? The Tigers conceded a whopping 31 extra inside 50s that day, so will take heart they weren't blown out on the scoreboard. Usually hunting opposition turnovers to generate a large portion of their scoring, the Tigers last week kicked eight goals from stoppages in the semi-final win over St Kilda. If they can replicate anything similar on Friday night, and turn around what happened last time against the Power, it will go a long way to booking their third Grand Final berth in four years.

WHAT THE STATS SAY

The Power's mantle as the No.1 tackling team in the competition continued in the qualifying final win over Geelong, laying 18 more than the Cats.

Richmond was again prolific at scoring from opposition turnovers during the home and away season, ranked No.1 in the competition with 45.4 per game. However, they've dropped to an average of 27 in both finals. It's the stoppage game where they've increased, going from 18.1 to 34 points per match.

Steven Motlop enjoyed the greatest jump of any Power player from home and away form to their qualifying final performance. His average player rating rose from 8.8 to 17.9. The former Cat will have his sights set on a big night after being held goalless in his previous two outings against Richmond.

Richmond's tally of 24 inside 50s against Port Adelaide back in round 11 was the second-fewest of any side in the competition in 2020.

Outside of Tom Lynch's single performance last year, Daniel Rioli has the best form of any Tiger in his three preliminary final outings to date, according to the Champion Data player ratings.

Three Port Adelaide players – Travis Boak, Tom Rockliff and Ollie Wines – average more disposals than Richmond's top ball-winner Dustin Martin in 2020 (20.6 disposals per game).

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …

Port Adelaide
The Power were able to find other avenues to goal as Charlie Dixon was held to one major in the qualifying final, but he'll be keen to stand up against David Astbury, Dylan Grimes and Noah Balta. Dixon's 2.4 against the Tigers in round 11 was his biggest haul against any of the remaining three teams this season.

Richmond
He's proven himself in big preliminary finals before, but Toby Nankervis will have plenty on his plate on Friday night. The dual premiership big man was injured when the two sides last met, and he'll have studied the tape of Scott Lycett and Peter Ladhams from that game closely this week.

In a gruelling, taxing and absorbing preliminary final on Friday night, Richmond gave itself a chance to win a third premiership in four years with a thrilling six-point victory over Port Adelaide.

Remarkably, the margin never stretched beyond 11 points in the favour of either side all evening as the Tigers outlasted a gallant Power outfit 6.10 (46) to 6.4 (40) to ensure they will head to the Gabba for the Grand Final in eight days' time.

But while the venue of this season's premiership decider might be different, the yellow and black colours clad by one of its competitors will provide some familiarity. A third flag in four years could now await Damien Hardwick's men.

Perhaps none will be as deserved as this one, though. A campaign littered with complexities and hurdles to overcome found another daunting one on Friday night in the form of a rampant Port Adelaide side on its home deck.

But Richmond, as it has for years, simply found a way. Dustin Martin (21 disposals, two goals) was again heroic in every facet of the game, while a late rear-guard stand ensured a Grand Final ticket was ultimately booked.

The Tigers held a one-score lead for the final 13 minutes of a pulsating clash, as the Power pushed for that defining kick that could change their fortunes, but a frustrating Ken Hinkley watched on as it never arrived.

Connor Rozee (14 disposals, two goals) had lit the flame for Port Adelaide's early hopes of securing victory, while Xavier Duursma (19 disposals, one goal) battled hard all night. But the hosts fell devastatingly short when it mattered.

A clash that had pitted the minor premiers against the reigning premiers was never going to be easy, with the teaming rain that drenched the Adelaide Oval and the subsequent wet conditions adding to the intensity.

The first half started with an edgy and aggressive 12-minute stretch without a goal and ended with a 14-minute spell without a single point. But while the long periods of pressure dried the scoring, it certainly didn't stop the controversy.

Port Adelaide ruckman Peter Ladhams was reported for a strike to the midriff of Noah Balta, before Duursma's passionate arrow celebration led to a heated row with the night's pantomime villain Tom Lynch.

But that's not to say there weren't moments of attacking brilliance littered in between. Martin's superb gather and snap broke the early deadlock, before Rozee's effort from deep inside the pocket ensured the scores were tied at half-time.

But the stark evenness between the two sides wasn't just reflected on the scoreboard, as a gripping and trying contest turned into an anxiety-laden finale as Richmond carried a slender two-point lead into the final change.

Charlie Dixon, well held by Balta all night, came to the fore with a strong mark and a finish from beyond 50m to match that delivered Port Adelaide the lead. Kane Lambert, with a dribbling finish through a scrum of limbs, provided a quick response.

Another from Lambert, courtesy of a deliberate decision against a scrambling Hamish Hartlett, then seemingly gave the Tigers the momentum. But, again, it was just as rapidly wiped out by Ladhams at the other end.

For 13 gruelling minutes, both teams battled for the final shot on target that could seal passage to the Grand Final. But, sweetly for Richmond, it never arrived. A six-point win enough to seal another opportunity to taste the game's greatest success.

PORT ADELAIDE 2.3 3.3 4.4 6.4 (40)
RICHMOND 2.1 3.3 4.6 6.10 (46)

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Rozee 2, Duursma, Lycett, Dixon, Ladhams
Richmond: Martin 2, Lambert 2, Riewoldt, Lynch

BEST
Port Adelaide: Rozee, Duursma, Ebert, Gray, Jonas, Wines
Richmond: Martin, Balta, Cotchin, Vlastuin, Graham, McIntosh

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Ebert (concussion)
Richmond: Nil