PORT ADELAIDE'S first win of the season in the SANFL was a historic moment, being the first time the Magpies have beaten the Redlegs at Norwood Oval in over a decade.

It was a tough contest and an exciting final quarter with the lead changing hands multiple times.

The Magpies eventually won by three points thanks to a contested goal from Robbie Young in the dying minutes of the final term.

Port’s SANFL coach Chad Cornes was pleased with the result and effort displayed - with improvements clearly made after last weekend’s game against Glenelg.  

“We definitely learnt from last week, we understand the boys hadn’t played footy together much, it was a really young team last week,” said Cornes.  

“Glenelg jumped us last week, but we’ve learnt from that, you’ve got to turn up to play no matter what, it was good for the young guys who hadn’t played SANFL before to learn it’s a really tough competition.

 “The boys’ attitude all week was great, it was a pretty honest review we had with some of them and the guys we had honest reviews with really came out and played the way they should, so I really want them to enjoy that, we haven’t won here for 10 years.”

Cornes said the increase in on-field leadership was one of his key focusses heading into Round 2, and was pleased to see it improve against the Redlegs.

“I spoke about what we learnt from last week and how we wanted to play, a big thing was on ground leadership and on ground voice which really lacked last week so some of the boys stepped up a provided that,” Cornes said.

Thursday night’s game against the Redlegs saw a strong improvement in pressure on the ball and on the man and provided a hotly competitive second half of footy.

“Every time Norwood got a run on we were able to stem that and fight back, when they [Redlegs] scored that last one the boys could have easily packed it in, but they attacked the game and Robbie Young kicked a brilliant goal so it was a good night,” Cornes said

“I thought we played well all night just blew a few chances throughout the night, but the boys stuck together, that unity was there and when things weren’t going our way we stuck to the structures and what we needed to do and in the end that came through even when we kicked one goal seven [points] in the third quarter.

“The boys stood firm and understood what we were doing was working they just needed to convert which they did in the final quarter.”    

The trust in each other and in their structure was vital to their success in a highly-competitive game.

Port Adelaide will take on North Adelaide in the Magpies’ first home game for the season at Alberton Oval on Saturday 22 April at 2.10pm.           

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