PORT ADELAIDE has enjoyed a comfortable 52-point win over the Crows in a pre-season game at Alberton Oval.
In perfect conditions the Crows toiled hard early before Port’s experience and class saw it pull away with 13 goals to seven after quarter time to finish 18.17 (125) to 11.7 (73) winners.
Charlie Dixon and Xavier Duursma booted three goals a piece for the home side in a solid pre-season showing.
It was a slow start by Port Adelaide on its home deck with the Crows flying out of the blocks to have the first two goals inside three minutes through big men Reilly O’Brien and Billy Frampton.
A strong mark on half back by Dan Houston seemed to be what his side needed to settle and Port fired back with consecutive goals of its own.
Xavier Duursma had the first with a neat snap around the body and Pete Ladhams followed soon after following a free kick inside 50.
Former Port player Billy Frampton had his second after a mark just inside 50 but Duursma responded again, this time after flying high for a good mark over two opponents.
It was goal for goal in a high-scoring opening stanza with Harry Schoenberg snapping truly before Charlie Dixon and Todd Marshall imposed themselves with some strong marks around forward 50.
Dixon’s set shot was off line but Marshall nailed his effort before Steven Motlop goaled cleverly just before the siren to make it an eleven point margin at the first change.
The Crows required some running repairs early in the second term with Luke Brown coming off with a blood nose after copping a falcon and Wayne Milera limping off in the arms of trainers with a serious game-ending leg injury.
A defensive mistake by Ollie Wines gifted Ben Keays the opening goal and an inaccurate Port spurned some golden chances to youngsters Connor Rozee and Miles Bergman.
Zak Butters got busy playing in the midfield and Aliir Aliir was doing some nice things off half back and then another new recruit Orazio Fantasia got into the action.
The former Bomber kicked consecutive goals, the first after making something out of nothing against two opponents and the second after marking on the lead.
Late goals to Rozee and Travis Boak made it a 30 point lead for Port at the main break and the home side was looking comfortable.
Ned McHenry got the visitors going with a good early goal but from that point it was all Port Adelaide again as the margin blew out to a game-high 60 points.
Six consecutive goals including a third to Duursma and Rozee’s second saw Port firmly in control. Dixon and Georgiades each snapped left footed goals in that stretch before Taylor Walker nailed a set-shot to stop the Crows’ drought.
Another late major to McHenry into an open goal brought Adelaide to 48 with a quarter to play.
With the result a foregone conclusion, the Crows continued to battle and Ben Keays had started the final term with a goal before a free kick to Dixon saw him boot his second from about 40 metres out.
James Rowe snapped a goal back for the Crows but the sting was well and truly out of the game, especially when Dixon nailed his third after marking on the lead.
Playing his first game since the 2019 SANFL Grand Final, Willem Drew impressed through the midfield and grabbed a mark and goal from 45 metres out to mark his return and seal a 52-point win.
The only damper of the afternoon from a Port Adelaide perspective was a check injury suffered by Todd Marshall in the second quarter which saw him sit out the rest of the game.
The sides will meet again in an AAMI Community Series game at Noarlunga next Sunday.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 5.6 9.9 15.12 18.17 (125)
ADELAIDE 4.1 5.3 8.6 11.7 (73)
Goals
Duursma, Dixon 3, Fantasia, Rozee 2, Ladhams, Marshall, Motlop, Boak, Wines, Rockliff, Georgiades, Drew
