With a strong breeze favouring the southern end of the ground and rain falling for the majority of the game, a young Magpies outfit (10.14.74) managed to stay composed in a tight tussle, finishing the game 15-point winners over the Eagles (8.11.59). 

“The first half was really evenly balanced,” coach Hamish Hartlett said. 

“There was a clear advantage going down the southern end. In the back half of the game, the wind died down a little bit, and I thought we adjusted to the conditions well and still managed to play our brand of footy all the way through to the end of the game,” said coach Hamish Hartlett.

Saturday’s game marked a SANFL debut for Christian Moraes (24 disposals, six tackles), whose decision making and ability to cover the ground across a range of positions showed a maturity beyond his years.

“Chriso (Moraes) was really good,” Hartlett said. 

“He played a couple of different roles, wing and in the midfield and forward at periods as well, and adapted really well across the game. He's a very clean player. He makes good decisions. And again, he did some important things late in the game with a bit of pressure and some tackles.”

After a difficult start to the 2025 SANFL season, the Magpies have now won their third consecutive game, and fourth overall. 

While Hartlett believes his side’s recent turn of form is a result of the growing confidence among his young playing group, the Magpies coach knows his group still has work to do.

“We probably feel like we're still a fair way back,” he said.  

“We're building confidence in what we're doing, but we still understand it's going to be a bit of an uphill battle, but we won't focus too far ahead. We'll have a good rest this week and go about figuring out how to try and beat South Adelaide. But everyone's building a great deal of belief in what we're doing, which is nice,” said Hartlett.

At the end of the game when the pressure was up and the going got tough, the Magpies backline stood tall, anchored by the likes of Dylan Williams (27 disposals), Jez McLennan (16 disposals, five marks) and Kyle Marshall (12 disposals). 

But it was an unlikely hero that caught the eye of onlookers, with coach Hartlett turning to first year key forward Jack Whitlock, who was swung back in defence and took some crucial intercept marks.

“Jack has trained (going behind the ball) a little bit throughout the pre-season, and he actually enjoys that responsibility of taking on that role,” Hartlett said. 

“To have someone that has got that confidence and that belief in their capability at such a young age to impact the game in important moments, is a real credit to him.”

The Magpies will have to wait a fortnight before looking to continue their hot run of form, where they’ll take on South Adelaide in Noarlunga on Saturday 28 June at 1:10pm.

Scoreboard

Port Adelaide:  4.6   5.8   8.11   10.14 (74)
Woodville:       1.2    5.6    6.9     8.11 (59)

Goals: Charleson, Finlayson, Lord 2, Barrett, Lorenz, Mackinlay, McLennan.
Best: Williams, Watkins, Moraes, Lai, Mackinlay, Marshall.