TOM ROCKLIFF has guided Port Adelaide to a 21-point win over North Melbourne in the Power’s second and final JLT Community Series match for 2019.
The former Brisbane Lions skipper was back to his vintage possession gathering best with a game-high 42 disposals, 17 marks and nine clearances as well as two goals.
Draftee Zak Butters also continued his impressive form from last week with three goals and some clever moments as the Power completed a high-scoring, high intensity victory over the Kangaroos.
The scoring started early with both sides managing seven goals in the first term.
There were big swings in momentum with the Power skipping away to an early lead with two goals to Robbie Gray in the space of a minute and big Scott Lycett snapping a major around the body after good build up play involving Jack Watts and Justin Westhoff.
But the Kangaroos responded with the next six goals, three of them to Paul Ahern including one after the Power twice turned the ball over in the defensive 50.
Then Sam Powell-Pepper made his mark on the contest, getting his hands on the centre clearances and setting up scores for Tom Rockliff and Darcy Byrne-Jones, the latter after the quarter time siren to bring the Power to within a point at the first change.
Travis Boak was busy with 13 first quarter possessions and four marks while Rockliff (11 possessions and two goals) and Powell-Pepper (10 disposals) were driving the home side.
Jared Polec, returning to Alberton for the first time along with Jasper Pittard since their off-season trades to the Kangaroos, received some jeers from the healthy crowd after he booted a long bouncing behind but otherwise he wasn’t too busy.
The Kangaroos stretched their lead early in the second term when Jack Ziebel booted his first of the afternoon.
Boak and Rockliff continued to pile on the possessions and the latter bobbed up in the centre square to grab a clearance and hit draftee Zak Butters down low on the chest.
The teenager finishing the set shot from 45 metres for his first goal in Power colours, before Boak got his first for the day, completing a strong mark, then turning and setting sail from the 50 metre line.
The Kangaroos fired back through a major to Bailey Scott after some loose checking inside 50 but Port, through Todd Marshall and Westhoff, answered with two goals of their own.
The scoring slowed after Ben Brown goaled running into an open goal but Butters showed why the Power took him in the first round, roving off the pack after some clever work by Scott Lycett to find the goals off the outside of his boot.
A 12-point half time lead grew to a 21-point advantage at the final change as Rockliff continued on his merry way, racing to 30 disposals and 13 marks.
Steven Motlop and Karl Amon booted goals and Byrne-Jones was the recipient of a controversial double 50-metre penalty, giving him the easiest of second majors.
But the highlight of the quarter was a sublime long goal to Polec after an out on the full in the forward pocket. He booted long and accurately to silence some of the True Believers who were giving him advice over the fence.
A head clash early in the last quarter saw Paddy Ryder and Robbie Gray slow to get up. The former went off with the blood rule and remained on the bench for the remainder of the game.
His ruck partner Lycett stepped up in his absence, marking strongly and converting the set shot to extend the margin.
Connor Rozee flew high and nearly came down with a mark of the day contender and his fellow youngster Butters nailed his third major with a soccered effort after the ball bounced up perfectly for him on a tight angle.
The Kangaroos added three quick goals to close the margin, one from another controversial 100 metre penalty, but when Westhoff slotted his second of the match with a banana kick after a relayed free kick, the game was as good as iced.
The Power ending their pre-season with an encouraging win.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 7.1 12.4 15.8 19.9 (123)
NORTH MELBOURNE 7.2 10.4 12.5 16.6 (102)
Goals
Butters 3, Gray, Rockliff, Byrne-Jones, Lycett, Westhoff 2, Powell-Pepper, Boak, Marshall, Amon, Motlop, Watts
Best
Rockliff, Butters, Powell-Pepper, Boak, Gray, Lycett, Watts, Duursma
