PORT Adelaide has retained top spot on the SANFL ladder after defeating second-placed Sturt by 50 points at Alberton on Sunday.

John Butcher and Anthony Biemans were the most destructive up forward for the Magpies with three goals apiece, to help give the club a 5-1 win loss record and move one game clear at the top of the league.

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It sets up an exciting standalone Port Adelaide game next Saturday against an in form and second-placed South Adelaide side coached by the Power's former defensive guru and opposition analyst Brad Gotch.

The Magpies got off to a flying start by dominating the centre clearances and running riot with the Double Blues thanks to their hard tackling and brave play to open a handy 28-point lead at quarter time.

Port Adelaide's dominated the inside 50 entries 11-3 and looked like running away with the game.

But the Double Blues bounced back and pressured Port Adelaide in the second term to come within 10 points of the black and white thanks to a quick-fire two goals to Kurtze.

The Maggies increased their work around the ball to stretch the lead back out to 33 points at half time led by the hard running of captain Steven Summerton, who also managed to get on the end of a few goals, Andrew Moore and Karl Amon.

Campbell Heath and Cam O'Shea were the pillars of the Magpies' back line while Nathan Krakouer and Tom Clurey continued their good work deep in defence.

The Magpies continued to control the key statistics of the game in the third term - they more than doubled Sturt's inside 50s (44-22), and led the clearances 31-23.

Port Adelaide had many contributors around the field in the third term, with each player working hard to do his part for the team.

Big man Tom Clurey nullified Sturt's key forward Matt Duldig, limiting him to just six disposals and one goal at the end of the match.

Despite a few late goals from the Double Blues' Coad and Hansen, Port Adelaide's creative, defence-first and hard-nosed style won out in the end.

The Magpies will take on second-placed South Adelaide at Alberton Oval next Saturday 17 May at 2:10pm.

More to come...

SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE       6.5      11.6      17.11  19.12      (126)
STURT                      2.1      6.3       8.5      11.10      (76)

portadelaidefc.com.au's best

Summerton, Newton, Biemans, O'Shea, Clurey, Moore, Byrne-Jones

Goals
Butcher, Biemans 3, Harvey, Summerton, Stewart, Moore 2, S Gray, Neade, Ah Chee, Haren, Bruggeman

Injuries
TBC

Crowd
2639 at Alberton Oval