PORT Adelaide’s dominance over South Adelaide came to a crushing end on Saturday at Noarlunga, after the Panthers dominated the third term to win their round 12 clash.

South Adelaide’s win was its first against Port since 2014 and it was done by 43 points.

The Magpies led by as much as 16-points midway through the second quarter, but the Panthers were able to close the gap to just two points at the main break.

In striking contrast to the side’s encounter three weeks ago, the third quarter belonged to South, as they managed four unanswered goals and ended the term with five, to Port’s one.

Skipper Steve Summerton attempted to edge Port back into the match in the final term, winning the first stoppage and slamming the ball on the foot, streaming it forward.

But it was cut off by South’s defence and the home side went coast-to-coast as Brett Eddy took a spectacular mark and goaled.

Kane Mitchell and Brendon Ah Chee were the standouts for Port in a disappointing day, with 34 and 26 disposals.

John Butcher played his best game for the club this year, after taking five marks, including three mark-of-the-day contenders and kicking three goals.

In his first game in 12 weeks, Jay Schulz performed strongly up forward, kicking two goals and taking seven marks

Port Adelaide has a bye next week, before travelling to Elizabeth to play Central District on July 2.

Scoreboard:

Port Adelaide      3.2 5.4 6.5 8.6 (54) def by.

South Adelaide   1.4 4.8 9.12 14.13 (97)

Goals:
Butcher 3, Schulz 2, T Gray, Houston, Sharrad

Portadelaidefc.com.au’s Best: Mitchell, Ah Chee, Butcher, Summerton

Disposals: Mitchell 34, Ah Chee 26, Summerton 20, Bonner, Sharrad 19

Injuries: Aidyn Johnson (TBC)

First Quarter
In cold, windy conditions at Noarlunga, John Butcher got Port Adelaide off to a great start by not only booting the first goal, but also with his ability to read the ball in the air and take contested grabs inside 50.

The Magpies were led in the middle by Kane Mitchell, who was fresh in his return from suspension last week, and used his speed to clear the ball and get Port Adelaide forward.

Despite Josh Trembath responding after Butcher’s first goal, Port’s pressure was at a high, as they led the tackle count 6-16 at the end of the term.

Tom Gray got on the end of Port’s second goal, showing courage to mark the ball going back with the flight of the ball after Jimmy Toumpas’ up and under kick.

But the feel-good story of the first term belonged to Jay Schulz who was playing his first game in 12 weeks after undergoing back surgery.

Schulz took four contested marks for the quarter and also managed to get on the end of Port’s third major for the term, helping the black and white to a 10-point lead at the first break.

 


Second Quarter
Butcher’s influential form continued during the second term, as he kicked the Magpies’ first for the quarter again.

Port’s skipper Steve Summerton also started to get into the action and lead from the front inside the contest by putting his body on the line and showing desperation at the stoppages.

South Adelaide, however, worked their way back into the contest and goals to Richard Newell, Brett Eddy and Jake Veide put the Panthers in front by three points midway through the term.

The Panthers won the stoppages and used the ball well going forward giving them chances to edge their way further in front

But Port’s backline, les byTom Clurey and Sid Masters, worked hard on the last lines of defence to read the ball and either punch it out or take a strong mark.

The quarter also produced a few for the highlights reel with big flies inside 50 for Port Adelaide - the first came from Billy Frampton and the other from John Butcher – but both were unable to capitalise in front of goal.

Butcher was finally rewarded for his work rate when he managed to get on the end of his third goal after taking another high-flying grab.

His goal put the Magpies in front by two points at half time.

Mitchell racked another five disposals during the second and deserved credit for doing the team things like running with his team mates and shepherding those with the ball.

Third Quarter
Port was forced to begin the term with one fewer rotation after an injury struck down Aidyn Johnson.

Riley Bonner hurt his ankle in a contest, but managed to return to the field.

The Panthers took full of advantage, though, with Nick Liddle and Xavier Gotch combining for six stoppages early, as Port’s pressure dropped off.

Goals to Tyson Brown, Rigby Barnes and Josh Trembath put the home side 17-points in front after 12 minutes.

Ah Chee and Summerton continued to work hard, trying to break their way through tackles.

But miskicks transitioning out of defence hurt Port as they struggled to maintain clean possession and South out-muscled them at ground level.

The Magpies finally got on the scoreboard with a goal to Dan Houston after he managed to run into an open goal, getting over the back of Bonner’s long bomb inside 50.

But South Adelaide cleared the ball out of the next centre bounce and Bass responded quickly, pushing the lead back out to 24 points.

Fourth Quarter
Summerton worked hard to give Port some hope early and sent Port into attack, only to have the ball cut off by South’s defence.

South’s midfielders ran hard and worked the ball out of defence freely down the corridor.

A goal to Xavier Gotch with eight minutes gone gave South a 37-point lead, putting the icing on the cake in a disappointing second half for the Magpies.

Port had a few more opportunities to score through Polec and Mitchell’s kicks into the forward line, but they could not find targets and the ball was swooped up by South.

Schulz and Sharrad were Port’s only goal scorers in the final term.