PORT ADELAIDE couldn’t close the gap in the SANFL Showdown, falling to Adelaide by 15-points in slippery conditions.

Grey clouds taunted the Adelaide Oval before heavy rain poured early in the game, forcing the match to be a wet and slippery affair. Brave fans who arrived early for the AFL Showdown were treated to a damp seat and a tight contest, before Adelaide pulled away in the last quarter, sentencing Port Adelaide to a 12.22 (94) to 12.7 (79) loss.

The Magpies opened their account early, hitting the scoreboard immediately courtesy of standout Will Lorenz, who finished with 35 disposals, 11 inside 50s and a goal. 

Coach Hamish Hartlett was impressed with Lorenz’s outing in the wild conditions. 

“I thought (Lorenz) was fantastic. I thought he was tough and clean inside the contest, and I thought his work rate outside the contest was great as well,” Hartlett said.

“His attitude, regardless of where he’s playing is exemplary.”

Port Adelaide extended its run of five first-quarter goals in the second term as it continued to rain, kicking four goals in a row either side of quarter time to gain its game-high lead of 13 points.

Trailing at quarter time, Adelaide wrestled its way back into the game, eventually taking control in the third quarter with 11-2 scoring shots but failed to convert as nine behinds were left on the table. 

Hartlett was impressed with his young backline’s ability to withstand the onslaught of Adelaide inside 50s, praising their ability to hold strong and keep the margin within reach.

“It was not an easy day for the boys down back…they held up really well. They were under pressure for large periods of the game and continued to fight and scrap and get the ball out of the area,” Hartlett said. 

The weather calmed in the second half, allowing Port Adelaide to play a cleaner brand of football compared to the first half.

“When it was dry, we could actually use it well enough by hand and find marks…but when the rain came down it forced us to surge the ball forward and just get the momentum going our way,” Hartlett said.

“I thought the guys adapted to the conditions as well as they possibly could have.”

Despite the conditions, Port Adelaide forwards were dangerous whenever the ball was near, especially Dylan Williams, who continued his recent hot form, banking another six goals on Saturday.

“(Williams) has obviously accepted his new role of the last two or three weeks and performed brilliantly,” Hartlett praised.

Other strong performers in the close loss were midfielders Mani Liddy (27 disposals, nine clearances, one goal) and Jack Watkins (24 disposals), as well as make-shift ruck Jack Whitlock who impressed his coach with 15 disposals and five clearances.

“(Whitlock’s) another young player that in the last two or three weeks has competed exceptionally well in a different position than he’s used to,” Hartlett said.

“His ability to compete in the air and then move around the ground is really exciting for him and the club.”

Midfielder Rory Atkins was also prominent before being withdrawn at half-time as a precaution as an AFL emergency, amassing 16 disposals and eight rebound-50s in just a half of football, while forward Benny Barrett took no further part after an ankle injury late in the second quarter.

Port Adelaide will regroup for next Saturday’s clash against West Adelaide at Hisense Stadium at 2:10pm.