Simpson feels need for speed to shut down Power
WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson has summoned speedster Lewis Jetta for tonight’s danger game against Port Adelaide.
Jetta (pictured), who missed last week’s derby win against Fremantle because of a hamstring strain, will play against a Port side which has Simpson on edge.
The Eagles boss rates Port similar to his side: inconsistent yet capable of brilliance.
“When you look at the year, it’s so topsy-turvy,” Simpson said yesterday.
“I think we are one of 15 or 16 sides who have had a couple of good weeks and a couple of weeks that weren’t as great. I look at (Port) as very similar.
“Their best football has looked really, really good ... their kids have got exceptional talent.
“And they have had a couple of weeks where they haven’t closed out games where they perhaps could have.
“We look at them with a lot of respect and it’s going to be a really tough game.”
The Power has lost consecutive close games against Brisbane Lions and Richmond after opening its season with successive wins.
And while Simpson has called on the fleet-footed Jetta, Port coach Ken Hinkley has dropped one of his speedsters, Steven Motlop, while recalling tall forward Todd Marshall.
“We saw last week that we had some issues, particularly in the last quarter, we weren’t able to bring the ball to ground as well as we would have liked,” Hinkley said yesterday.
“Todd gives us a bit more height in that area and he gives us a bit more aerial assistance.”
Marshall’s inclusion comes despite heavy rain forecast in Perth.
“West Coast are a big side, too. They have got plenty of talls in their side,” Hinkley said.
“Height and weather don’t necessarily have to go handin-hand. We’re not that tall in defence so maybe it’s an advantage to us, because they’ll have some big blokes in their front half.”