SIX goals from youngster Dylan Williams weren’t enough as Port Adelaide succumbed at Alberton Oval for the first time in 2021, going down to Sturt by 41 points in the SANFL on Sunday.
Both sides engaged in a tough, scrappy contest early in the first quarter before the Magpies opened the scoring through returning captain Cam Sutcliffe.
The Double Blues responded and kept the ball in their attacking half for the majority of the opening quarter, kicking two majors to take an eight-point lead.
Dylan Williams was on the receiving end of a bullet pass from Riley Bonner and converted against the run of play, before Sturt again responded with two goals of their own.
The visitors led by 14 points at the first change and the Magpies needed to respond.
Yet, it was the Double Blues who continued their strong form, on the receiving end of uncontested marks inside their forward 50.
Goals to Daniel Fahey-Sparks and Charlie Parker saw the margin extended to 24 points and the Magpies with plenty of questions to answer.
Williams then, after a free kick, kicked a remarkable goal from the boundary to break the string of Sturt majors.
But the Double Blues couldn’t miss, with two more goals to close out the first half and lead by 28 points at the main change.
The Magpies burst out of the blocks in the third quarter, with Sam Mayes clearing from the guts and Williams getting on the end of it with his third.
It was all about the Port youngster early on, as he sold some candy and danced around opponents at will in the pocket to kick his fourth and cut the margin to 16 points.
However, as they had all day, Sturt found a way to seize control of the game.
Successive goals to Adam Trenorden, Steven Slimming, Trenorden again and Josh Hone blew the margin back out to 40 points.
Williams’ forward work was again rewarded five minutes from three-quarter-time as he earned a free kick 20 metres out to make it five goals for the day.
A late missed set shot from Sturt ensured it led by 35 points at the final change.
The fourth started in similar fashion to the third, with Bonner lacing out Williams who nailed his sixth within a minute of the restart.
Sturt didn’t buy into any idea of a comeback as Hone slotted his third to put the margin back out to 35.
Both sides struggled to threaten the big sticks for the next 10 minutes until Sturt again did more damage through Henry Carey, leaving the final margin at 41 points.
Sam Mayes led the way with disposals with 27, while Matt Appleton and Boyd Woodcock had 22 each.
SCOREBOARD
Port Adelaide 2.1 3.5 6.6 7.8 50
Sturt 4.3 8.3 12.5 14.7 91
Port Adelaide
Goals: Williams 6, Sutcliffe.
Best: Williams, Woodcock, Edwards, Westbrook, Mayes.
