PORT Adelaide grabbed their second win for the 2011 season at Alberton yesterday with a 27 point victory over West Adelaide.
Despite being top on the ladder, West was out tackled, out-muscled and out-run by the gutsy Port Adelaide, the final score resting at 13.12 (90) to 9.9 (63).
West dominated the first half of play in the opening term, but they couldn’t keep up with the Magpies once they hit the ground running in typical Port Adelaide fashion.
Despite a slow second quarter, John Butcher ended it on a high note, kicking his second on the siren to bring the margin to 4 points into the second quarter.
Thurgood was superb in defence, positioned against ex-AFL player Brad Fisher, solidly keeping Fisher out of the game despite being more of a midfield regular.
Tim Milera had a couple of unlucky shots at goal in the second quarter, but managed to kick his first close to half time.
Ivan Maric followed soon after with his first after receiving a penalty near the goal square.
The Magpies came out blazing after half time and scored an impressive five unanswered goals within the first half of the quarter.
Maric took a spectacular high-flyer to pass off to Beard for another major score, also Beard’s first.
Milera gained two for himself within ten minutes and Mercer increased the margin to 29 after he received a free in the Magpies’ scoring goal square.
But West responded with two goals, shortening the margin to 15 points heading into the final quarter.
Butcher opened the fourth quarter with his third, and a brilliant bit of play between the Milera brothers kept the Magpies on a roll.
Maric played a very unselfish game, taking the awesome marks but handing off the glory to players in better positions.
Final goals to Kirkwood and Biacsi sealed the deal for the Magpies, who easily kept the pressure on and stopped the Bloods from making any sort of a comeback.
Coach Tony Bamford was pleased with the team’s improvement this week, after some disappointing efforts in the past few rounds.
“The pressure today was probably the best it’s been all year… it certainly got us off to a good start,” said Bamford.
“Our intensity was much better today, and our midfield were first rate so those two things make a big difference.”
Summerton was a standout for Port, notching up a brilliant 33 disposals, as well as five tackles for the match.
Special mention to youngster Ben Jacobs who played his first league game today and managed an impressive 22 disposals.
Final Score:
Port Adelaide 2.4 4.9 9.10 13.12 (90)
West Adelaide 3.2 5.5 7.7 9.9 (63)
Goals: Tim Milera 4, Butcher 3, Mercer 2, Meiklejohn, Maric, Kirkwood, Biacsi.
Best: Matt Lokan, Zane Kirkwood, Tim Milera, James Meiklejohn, Steven Summerton, Shayne Biacsi, John Butcher, Mark Dolling, Ivan Maric.
Injuries: Nil
In other matches:
U16:
West 15.5 (95) def Port 8.12 (60)
U18:
Port 13.18 (96) def West 4.6 (30)
Reserves:
Port 18.12 (120) def West 3.4 (22)
