Port wary that Suns will rise in Shanghai

PORT Adelaide cannot ignore one key point today as the second AFL match for premiership points is played in Shanghai — the opponent, Gold Coast, is looking to salvage its pride and perhaps its season.

As doubts linger on the Suns’ eagerness to stay in China with the Power, the 72point margin favouring Port Adelaide in last year’s historic game at Jiangwan Stadium carries one certainty — Gold Coast’s players are primed to respond.

Power coach Ken Hinkley expects this to manifest as “venom” in this afternoon’s sold-out match that, according to the AFL, has half the ticket sales with local Chinese.

Suns captain Steven May, who survived an AFL tribunal hearing to get a return trip to Shanghai, noted his team was better prepared in China after learning from mistakes from last year’s tour — and highly motivated.

“We’re certainly motivated by our embarrassing performance last year,” May said yesterday.

“It certainly was not good enough.”

Hinkley expects a “fired up” Gold Coast unit, regardless of the injury pain, suspensions and heavy travel burden the Suns have carried this year.

“They come here with a bit of venom that they want to represent their football club in a better fashion than they did on the scoreboard [last year],” Hinkley said.

“AFL is all about the game, the result ... and the Suns will be fiercely competitive about trying to claim the win.”