PORT ADELAIDE stormed into the SANFL finals after smashing Central District by 90 points at Elizabeth in the last minor round game of the year.
Led by forwards Billy Frampton and Tobin Cox, who booted 12 goals between them, and midfielders Sam Mayes and Jack Trengove who worked tirelessly all day, the Magpies kicked 17 goals to six after quarter time to blow the Bulldogs away.
Port coach Matthew Lokan said it was the most complete performance he had seen from his players all season.
“That is what we came here to do,” he said after the game.
“We knew Centrals were going to have a red-hot crack, which they did and the challenge was to come here and have a good performance and 90 points is certainly pleasing.
“We had dominance through the midfield, and our forwards were too strong in the air for Centrals so it was one of those days where everything went right for us which is pleasing.
“I was really physical game so to be able to withstand that pressure will put us in good stead for Adelaide (in the qualifying final) next Saturday.”
It was a highly spirited and often physical match from both sides, with Port wanting to finish the season on a high leading into finals and the Bulldogs farewelling seven-time premiership coach Roy Laird after 17 years at the helm.
“Roy has been a champion of SANFL football for a long time now so we knew the players were going to come out and play accordingly,” Lokan said.
“Credit to Roy, he has been a fantastic servant of SANFL footy and he would be disappointed with the way that the match went but I have full respect for Roy and his impact on the competition.
“It was a little bit disappointing, the physicality off the ball, but I thought the umpires held up really well, they were fantastic in the situation.”
The Magpies went into the match with a young side, but Lokan was impressed by his inexperienced forwards and defenders, who dominated the game.
“I thought that was the best that our forward line has worked together,” he said.
“It was a pretty impressive effort (from Billy Frampton), he kicked 7.4, had 18 disposals and nine marks, it is a fair effort, but Tobin Cox came back from a lacerated kidney with five goals in a hotly contested game.
“That is what we have based our season on all year, the way that our players gel and play for each other is really pleasing for me as a coach, it is a really easy team for me to coach because they enjoy playing footy together.
“It (the good performance) was a combination of everything, we had a really inexperienced back line today, we had three first year guys and Joel Garner who is in his second year and they gelled really well together.
The win ensured Port finished the season second on the ladder to set up a qualifying final against Adelaide next Saturday night at Adelaide Oval.
