CHARLIE DIXON and Ollie Wines made their return from injury on Saturday afternoon at Alberton Oval with a win in the Magpies SANFL clash with Sturt.

Dixon kicked five goals and Wines had 32 disposals in a good day for the Magpies who ran out 20-point winners.

A big 1980s style crowd of 5270 packed the grandstands and the Dad’s Army Bar wing to welcome the two star players back from injury layoffs and make their debuts in the traditional prison bars.

Dixon had a commanding impact on the clash and his teammates with young key forward Todd Marshall marking and turning instantly to send it towards his forward mentor at the goal face in the opening 20 seconds of the match.

Port had control of the first term, regularly sending the ball in deep into its forward line, but found it difficult converting in front of goal.

The game went goalless for 18 minutes with the Magpies opening their account with five consecutive behinds before Boyd Woodcock found space and slotted his team’s first from five metres out.

Willem Drew did the same just two minutes later to get Port rolling close to the quarter time break.

The Double Blues secured their first goal, also from close range through Josh Hone before the siren sounded to give Port a 10-point lead at the first change of ends.

Wines started with a flurry and found 10 disposals in the opening term, while the Magpies led the disposal count (100-82), as well as the inside 50s (12-6) and clearances (16-7) in a solid quarter of football.

Drew booted his second goal soon after the second quarter restart which saw the Magpies lead stretch to 18 points, before Dixon lifted the crowd to its feet and had teammates streaming from everywhere to celebrate his first goal in nearly 10 months.

Port had the momentum and were finally taking its opportunities in front of goal, booting 5.2 during the second term.

Tobin Cox and Mitch Mead scored goals from close range before Dixon kicked his second late in the quarter to help the Magpies to a 23-point half time lead.

Port had a massive advantage in the handball department at half time, leading the count 110 to 39 and began to dominate the contest during the third quarter.

Wines, Drew and Joel Garner were getting on top and the tall target in Dixon had them filled with confidence moving forward.

Dixon kicked two goals in two minutes to bring up his fourth midway through the third quarter as the Magpies lead stretched to 31 points at three quarter time with three goals to two during the third term.

Dixon took his fifth mark in front of the Power players watching on from the balcony and booted his fifth goal, before Cox capitalized on Sturt’s undisciplined behaviour to goal and put 44 points between the two teams.

Sturt steadied and kicked the last four goals of the game to restore the scoreline to a more respectable 12.13-85 to 10.5-65.

Peter Ladhams had another sensational game, racking up 46 hitouts and 19 disposals while duel Magarey Medallist Zane Kirkwood was good for the Double Blues with a match high 34 disposals.

SCOREBOARD
 
PORT ADELAIDE : 2.5, 7.7, 10.10, 12.13 (85)

STURT: 1.1, 4.2, 6.3, 10.5 (65)

BEST: Garner, Sutcliffe, Ladhams, Wines, Dixon, Drew.

DISPOSALS: Wines 32, Drew 29, Hewett 24 Sutcliffe 24.

GOALS: Dixon 5, Cox 2, Drew 2, Marshall, Mead, Woodcock 1.