PORT Adelaide has slumped to its fourth loss of the 2016 SANFL season after losing to Sturt at Peter Motley Oval by 63 points.

The disappointing display came off the back of wasteful first and third quarters, where Sturt held the Magpies without goal.

Sturt’s forwards fired at the other end, with an unstoppable goal blitz in the second half.

The strength of Sturt’s midfield - led by Kirkwood and Riley who combined for 14 clearances - was instrumental in setting up the win.

Kane Mitchell broke Port Adelaide's goal drought late in the final quarter booting two consecutive goals, but the Magpies still trailed by 75 points.

The Magpies were also dealt a blow off field with ruckman Matt Lobbe leaving the ground in the second term with a knee problem. He will have scans early this week. 

Port Adelaide takes on West Adelaide at Alberton Oval on Sunday 8 May at 2.10pm

First Quarter

In an uneventful first quarter at Peter Motley Oval, both sides slogged it out and goals were hard to come by.

But it was Sturt which made best use of the ball when in possession, easily moving the ball from the centre into its attacking 50.

Despite having more of the ball, the home side was wasteful in front of goals and did not place any heavy scoreboard pressure on the Magpies having booted 3.6.

Port Adelaide was also ineffective up forward.

The Magpies first and only goal of the quarter came after Palmer took a strong pack mark 20 metres from goal and slotted a major on the quarter-time siren to cut Sturt’s lead to 16 points at the first break.

Second Quarter

Luke Reynolds got the Magpies off to the quick start it needed with an intercept mark-and-goal inside 50.

Colquhoun also got in on the action by providing outside run that led to a goal from a snap around his body five minutes into the quarter.

But quick goals to Crocker, Carey and Evans directly from centre clearances had the Double Blues 30 points in front midway through the term.

Port Adelaide found it difficult to run and spread hard and, when in attack, had limited options forward of the ball.

Kane Mitchell and Steve Summerton worked hard and provided options down the corridor and a goal to Butcher after a sliding mark had Port within 23 points.

Sturt was again quick to respond and took a 30-point lead at half time.

Third Quarter

A costly error inside defensive 50 put the brakes on a Port comeback.

Things went from bad to worse for the Magpies as Sturt continued to outclass the visitors at stoppages and heaped on the goals.

The effort was there, especially from Mitchell, Summerton, Robbie Young and Colquhoun, but the execution was absent.

Fourth Quarter

While Clurey and Bonner worked hard inside defensive 50, Port Adelaide’s defence around the ground was lacking.

Sturt was allowed as much time and space as it pleased as it moved the ball freely into attack.

Butcher missed one of the few opportunities the Magpies had in the forward line and Sturt had more than tripled Port Adelaide's scoring shots 36-11 by midway through the term.

Greenslade, Evans, Lienert and Beard had no trouble converting at the other end and the margin blew out to 87 points.

Two goals to both Mitchell and Biemans and a last-gasp one to Sam Colquhoun helped cut the deficit to the eventual 63-point loss.

Scoreboard

PORT ADELAIDE           0.2        4.4        4.5       9.6    (60)
STURT                         3.6        8.10      13.13   18.15 (123)

Goals
Mitchell, Biemans, Colquhoun 2, Palmer, Reynolds, Butcher

portadelaidefc.com.au’s best
Mitchell, Colquhoun, Summerton, Bonner, Biemans

Injuries
Lobbe (knee)

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