THE Magpies have moved into the top four after a narrow win over Glenelg and could jump the ladder again with a win over Central District in Round 9 of the SANFL.
OPPOSING FORCES
PORT ADELAIDE
LAST MATCH: Round 8: Port Adelaide 13.5 (83) def Glenelg 11.9 (75)
CENTRAL DISTRICT
LAST MATCH: Round 8: Central District 11.7 (73) def Adelaide Crows 8.5 (53)
HEAD TO HEAD
Port Adelaide 84 v 55 Central District [drawn 2]
LAST FIVE
Port Adelaide 2 v 3 Central District
THIS YEAR
Port Adelaide WWLLWWW v LWLLDLW Central District
PLAYBILL
Round 8
Port Adelaide v Central District
Playford Alive Oval
Saturday 6 June
First Bounce: 2:10pm
Hashtags: #dogsport
Broadcast: RPH 1197am
Central District will provide free secure carparking adjacent to the Elizabeth Bowling Club, Goodman Road, Elizabeth
Tickets available at gate: Adult $14, Concession $8, Children U18 Free
TIME MACHINE
Round 16, 2014: Smashed in the opening half, the Magpies looked out of their depth against a confident Central District. But sparked by Sam Gray, Brendon Ah Chee and Tom Logan, Port Adelaide mounted an incredible 45-point turnaround in the third term to capture the lead at the final change. But the tank had emptied and the Dogs hit back hard to run out narrow victors.
PORT ADELAIDE 1.3 3.5 11.9 15.11 (101)
CENTRAL DISTRICT 5.3 10.5 11.6 16.8 (104)
Best: Logan, Ah Chee, Amon, S. Gray, B. Newton, Krakouer, Stewart
Goals: S. Gray 3, Krakouer, Hitchcock, Logan, Biemans 2, Newton, Bruggeman, Amon, Shaw
At Playford Alive Oval
FOUR QUARTERS
THE STAKES
Port Adelaide are holding onto fourth position while Central District is seventh on the ladder with two wins to its name. After a 20-point win over Adelaide last weekend, Centrals will be coming into the game full of confidence against Port Adelaide's SANFL team, and boasts a 3-2 record over the Magpies in the last five games played.
THE STOCKS
The Magpies only have two players on the injury list, with Aaron Young facing a test after he suffered concussion last weekend. The side could be strengthened by a number of AFL players who could make their return from injury through the SANFL, including Brendon Ah Chee and John Butcher. Centrals also have a small injury list so will have plenty of depth.
THE HISTORY
The last five games played between the two sides have gone the Doggies way with them holding a 3-2 lead in the head-to-head over the Magpies. Their last contest in Round 16 last year was a three-point win to Centrals, after Port showed a spirited fight back from 45 points down after half time.
THE VIBE
A win by the Magpies would be their fourth straight, and will be just the tonic for a couple oof disappointing losses early in the year, especially heading into next week's game against a flying West Adelaide. With a chance to cement their place in the top four, anything less than a win would be disappointing against Centrals, but as was show last week with Glenelg's late comeback, the Magpies will be vulnerable if they don't play a full game.
