SANFL finals are here and Port Adelaide will appear in the premiership race for the second consecutive year. This time though, the Magpies will play in the opening week after dropping to second on the ladder following last year's minor premiership. West Adelaide is the challenge, with the chance to play the minor premiers on the line.
OPPOSING FORCES
LAST MATCH
Round 19: Port Adelaide 17.6 (108) def West Adelaide 10.11 (71)
HEAD TO HEAD
Port Adelaide 189 v 99 West Adelaide (drawn 3)
LAST FIVE
Port Adelaide 3 v 2 West Adelaide
THIS YEAR
Port Adelaide: Won 13, Lost 5 v Won 11, Lost 7 West Adelaide
PLAYBILL
Finals Week 1
SANFL Qualifying Final
Port Adelaide v West Adelaide
Adelaide Oval
Sunday 6 September
First Bounce: 3:10pm
Hashtags: #PortWest
Tickets available at gate: Adult $17.50, Concession $12, Children U18, Adelaide Oval SMA and Essential Power members free
TIME MACHINE
Round 19, 2015: The final round of the regular season was a tight contest for the first half, the lead changing hands on several occasions with Port Adelaide getting out to a four point lead at the main break. Captain Summerton sparked his side into action in the second half, assisted by Kane Mitchell and Andrew Moore around to stoppages, a five goal to one third quarter putting the game beyond West Adelaide’s reach.
PORT ADELAIDE 4.1 6.4 11.6 17.6 (108)
WEST ADELAIDE 2.1 5.6 6.8 10.11 (71)
Best: Summerton, Stewart, Mitchell, Moore, Colquhoun
Goals: Summerton 5, Shaw 3, Reynolds 2, Byrne-Jones, Russell, Harvey, Mitchell, Moore, Palmer, Stewart
At Alberton Oval
FOUR QUARTERS
THE STAKES
It’s the business end of the season, so the stakes are high with every remaining game. The winner of the qualifying final between the Magpies and West Adelaide will take on minor premiers Woodville-West Torrens next week for a spot in the grand final, while the loser will play either Norwood or Central.
THE STOCKS
Port Adelaide made it through last weekend's game without injury, and aside from players selected for the AFL side, there is almost a full list to pick from. For West Adelaide, a number of first-choice players could return to the side but will have to overcome tests this week, including Aaron Fielke who was a late withdrawal last weekend, and Aaron Francis who sat out the second half with illness.
THE HISTORY
The Magpies have won the two contests this year by a total of 87 points, including the 37-point win in Round 19, to narrowly lead the recent head-to-head 3-2. This is the first year since 2001 that both Port Adelaide and West Adelaide have made the SANFL finals, the last time they met in the last month of football was the Preliminary Final in 1998 where Magpies won by 77 points (eventually going on to win the Grand Final).
THE VIBE
Facing a second consecutive game against West Adelaide, the Magpies will go into this game very confident after their performance last week. Looking to win their sixth game in a row and with a game against Woodville West-Torrens on the line, Port Adelaide will be very keen to take the shortest path to the Grand Final.
