Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee suffered a leg injury after helping fuel a 63-point torching of lacklustre Essendon, with the Power winning 20.13 (133) to 10.10 (70) on Sunday at Adelaide Oval. The result has intensified pressure on the Bombers just one week into their season.
According to Nine's Damian Barrett, captain Andrew McGrath led a players-only meeting after the loss. The gathering reflects the magnitude of Essendon's defensive collapse and the urgency within the playing group to address what has become a glaring weakness.
The Bombers surrendered nine straight goals either side of quarter time, with the inside 50 metre count reaching 21-2 in Port's favour, and by mid-second term they were already 50 points down. The side appeared passive in the first quarter, resorting to ineffective poking and finger-pointing, with their emphasis on handball easily dismantled by Port.
Port Adelaide managed 12 different goal kickers, with this being more indicative of Essendon's deeply flawed defensive structure than Port's scoring prowess. Zak Butters was best on ground for Port Adelaide with 36 disposals and 13 score involvements, demonstrating the ease with which the home side moved the ball.
For Essendon, only young players Nate Caddy and Isaac Kako provided fleeting moments of excitement, with Caddy kicking four goals. Port's new coach Josh Carr won for his first time while problems magnified for Brad Scott.
The defeat comes on the back of a 62-point loss to Hawthorn in Round 1. Essendon released a pre-season mini-documentary showing classroom sessions focused on bedding down team defence, yet the Bombers failed to translate those summer learnings into on-field execution against Port Adelaide. Without swift improvement in the fundamentals, the Bombers face a testing season ahead.