PORT ADELAIDE’s young players have shown signs that the future appears bright by running over the Adelaide Crows in an under 23 trial game at Thebarton Oval.

The Power fought back from 34-points down in the third quarter to take the match with Willem Drew and Riley Bonner starring in the turnaround.

Each of the Power’s draftees, except the ill Riley Grundy, showed glimpses of their talent with Xavier Duursma and Zak Butters among their side’s best.

It was a high intensity opening with neither side taking a backwards step in warm conditions at Thebarton Oval.

Kane Farrell kick-started the scoring but his long effort from 50 metres out in the pocket hit the post.

The Crows responded with three goals in three minutes through Lachlan Murphy and Shane McAdam from almost identical set-shots and from draftee Ned McHenry after the Power’s Xavier Duursma slipped and spilled a mark inside 50.

But momentum swung after midfield bull Willem Drew sparked the young Power side with a 55-metre bomb.

Both sides were hitting the contest hard with Port Adelaide’s young stars laying a number of ferocious tackles, which would have impressed stand-in coach Matthew Lokan.

The Power booted the next four goals including one after the siren to defender Dougal Howard after he was awarded a 50-metre penalty following his mark on the wing.

An eleven-point lead at the main break evaporated in the second term as the Crows took charge.

By the time Sturt recruit Shane McAdam had his third goal for the game at the 20 minute mark, Adelaide led by 15 points and when Richmond recruit Tyson Stengle slotted his second after Billy Frampton slipped inside 50, the margin was out to 21 points, with the Power limited to just one goal in the quarter to Tobin Cox.

The game turned again in the third term, as Port Adelaide cut the margin to ten point at the final change.

Zak Butters found himself free running into an open goal after quick hands by Farrell to start the term well for the Power, but goals to Darcy Fogarty from outside 50, Paul Hunter after a free kick inside 50 and Tyson Stengle saw the margin out to a game-high 34 points.

When Ryan Burton marked on a 45-degree angle 40 metres out and slotted the set shot and Karl Amon burst through a pack into an open goal the Power was back in the contest.

A hacked ball out of the centre from the resulting by Butters landed on Cox’s chest as he led out of the goal square.

He booted his second goal of the match before Connor Rozee got his second to get the Power back within two goals.

Stengle got the Crows off to a perfect start in the final term, running into an open goal for his fourt major of the match.

But SANFL players Adam Mahney and Mitch Mead combined to fire back before Billy Frampton took a juggled mark and slotted home his fist for the match to close the margin to just two points.

A fast centre break by Riley Bonner and beautiful delivery inside 50 found Sam Gray at the back of the pack and suddenly the Power was in front with 19 minutes to play.

A scrap ensued and it was ten minutes before Drew intercepted the ball on attacking 50 and booted his third.

From there the scoring dried up and the young Power outfit showed signs of maturity by eating up the clock and keeping possession of the ball.

SCOREBOARD

PORT ADELAIDE 5.1 6.2 11.3 15.8 (98)
ADELAIDE 3.2 9.5 12.7 13.9 (87)

Goals
PORT ADELAIDE: Drew, Rozee, Cox 2, Marshall, Howard, Amon, Burton, Butters, Mead, Frampton, S. Gray
ADELAIDE: Stengle 4, McAdam 3, Murphy, McHenry, Hunter, Fogarty, Wright, O’Brien

Best PORT ADELAIDE: Drew, Bonner, Amon, Howard, Duursma, Broadbent, Butters, Burton