Midfielder Will Brodie was among the Magpies' best, amassing a huge 42 disposals and 12 clearances. Image: Brock Pearson.

Port Adelaide was unable to recover from South Adelaide’s dominant first quarter performance, suffering a 62-point defeat on Saturday afternoon.

The Magpies were no match for the Panthers side that kicked seven goals in the first term alone before keeping Port Adelaide at arm’s length, handing the home side a 6.6 (42) to 16.8 (104) loss.

Despite near-perfect winter conditions at Alberton Oval, the Magpies couldn’t find a chink in the Panthers’ armour, managing six goals from 49 inside 50s and never holding the lead.

After a convincing first quarter performance, South Adelaide seemed to enter cruise control in the second and third terms which was enough to handle the plucky Magpies, allowing the Panthers to celebrate Jarrad Wright’s final game as coach in style, courtesy of small forward Jack Delean’s eight goal effort.

08:58

SANFL Highlights: Port Adelaide v South Adelaide

Port Adelaide and South Adelaide clash in Round 13 of SANFL action.

After conceding seven goals in the first quarter last week against Adelaide too, head coach Jacob Surjan was disappointed with another slow start from his side.

“It was a disappointing day,” Surjan said.

“We just couldn’t get any offensive method going… our defence was really poor.”

Surjan lamented his side’s inability to convert its success in the midfield (plus-eight clearances and plus-two inside 50s) into score, but was hopeful the group could improve in the coming weeks.

“We definitely feel like that game wasn’t us… we’d like to move past that one pretty quick,” Surjan said.

“Our expectation is that we continue to improve and we look to stay in as many games as possible.”

Although South Adelaide ran away with the win, Surjan highlighted the competitiveness and individual performance of young ruck Alex van Wyk, who amassed 37 hitouts in a dominant performance.

“van Wyk was outstanding…probably the best on ground for us by a long way,” Surjan praised.

“We thought he was competitive in the ruck, he took some really great contested marks around the ground…he’s really developing quickly at this level.”

Ruck Alex van Wyk battled hard all day, recording a game-high 37 hitouts. Image: Brock Pearson.

Other contributors for Port Adelaide on Saturday were Will Brodie (42 disposals, 12 clearances, seven tackles), Jack Watkins (33 disposals, 11 marks, seven clearances), and Terrel Rigney (12 disposals and three goals).

Port Adelaide will face North Adelaide next at Prospect Oval on Sunday July 12 at 2:10pm.

SCOREBOARD

PA  1.1  3.3  5.5  6.6 (42)
SA  7.2  9.3  12.5  16.8 (104)

Goals: Rigney 3, Marshall, Moraes, Walsh

Best: van Wyk, Brodie, Cavallaro, Rigney, Anastasopoulos, Watkins