AHEAD of the 2019 Statewide Super League Grand Final between Port Adelaide and Glenelg, portadelaidefc.com.au looks back at the most recent season-deciding encounters between the two sides.
Port Adelaide and Glenelg have enjoyed a rich rivalry in the SANFL competition over the years, with Sunday’s grand final set to be the seventh time the clubs have met in the premiership-decider.
Port holds a 5-1 advantage over the Tigers in grand finals, with victories in 1977, 1981, 1988, 1990 and 1992, with the Bays winning the first ever grand final meeting between the two sides in 1934.
In 1977 - the SANFL’s centenary year - the Magpies defeated the Bays by eight points in a high-scoring and very entertaining game at Football Park.
In Port’s 41st grand final appearance, it was the Tigers who hit the ground running - leading at the first change by five points thanks to a five-goal to four opening term. Tim Evans booted three goals in the first quarter for the Magpies, while Robert Paech kicked two majors for the Bays.
John Cahill’s men had the better of a fiery second quarter, turning an opening term deficit into a 10-point lead at the major break.
Evans added another goal to his name in the quarter, while Paech took his goal-kicking tally to four goals, but the second term would be remembered for some big hits.
Glenelg captain Graham Cornes crunched Kym Kinnear in a tackle which left the wingman concussed, before Evans clashed with backman Fred Phillis 150 metres off the ball, leaving both men in a dizzy state.
Brian Cunningham opened the scoring in the third term with a beautiful checkside on the left foot, before Paech added his fifth major.
The Bays started to take control of the game in the third quarter until David Granger’s second goal handed the Magpies back the lead. Ivan Eckermann then kicked a crucial goal on the cusp of three-quarter time to give the Magpies a nine-point advantage.
Daryl Rady kicked the opening goal of the final term to keep the packed Football Park crowd on the edge of their seats, but four consecutive goals to Cahill’s men turned the grand final on its head, with Evans’ seventh goal handing the Magpies a 26-point lead midway through the final term.
The Bays managed three late goals to reduce the margin, but it wasn’t enough, as the Magpies ended a 12-year premiership drought with an eight-point victory in front of 56,717 people at Football Park.
Evans and Eckermann starred for the Magpies in the forward half, while captain Russell Ebert, Cunningham and Bruce Light provided plenty of run and carry through the midfield.
Port’s 1977 premiership was its first against Glenelg, and the 24th in the club’s history.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 4.3 9.7 13.9 17.11 (113)
GLENELG 5.2 8.3 12.6 16.9 (105)
GOALS
PORT ADELAIDE Evans 7, Eckerman 3, Granger, Cunningham 2, James, Blethlyn, Sorrell
GLENELG Paech 5, Phillis 3, Rady, Carey 2, Hodgeman, Farquhar, Holst, Jackson
BEST
PORT ADELAIDE Cunningham, Ebert, Gerlach, Light, Evans
GLENELG Hodgeman, Voight, Carey, Cornes
