Port Adelaide's youthful exuberance blows winds of change through AFLW | Martin Pegan

11/21/2024 11:08 PM

A new wave of talent has built momentum heading into Saturday's preliminary final with a shock grand final appearance in touching distance

The AFLW continues to be, for better or worse, a hotbed of trials and tribulations. The compressed fixture is the latest experiment to be scrapped after one season, while a first night grand final is a bold addition to come next weekend. Yet on the field, familiarity walks a fine line with predictability.

That was until this season's surprise packet Port Adelaide showed that strong winds of change are finally blowing, as the brash upstarts surged past a battle-hardened Hawthorn to snatch a thrilling one-point semi-final victory. After booting 4.6 to 1.1 in the final term to overcome the biggest three-quarter time deficit in AFLW history, the Power now meet the ruthless and undefeated Kangaroos in stifling conditions on Saturday afternoon. The winner will then have the opportunity to dethrone an AFLW heavyweight on the grandest stage.