PORT ADELAIDE has won its second SANFL trial match convincingly after holding West Adelaide to just one goal after quarter time.

Fielding a team of superior experience to the home side, Port's line-up featured names like Alipate Carlile, Jay Schulz and Jared Polec.

Perhaps most impressive were the Magpies' younger players, who were exciting with the ball all night.

The Magpies didn't relent throughout the evening and kept West goalless in the second half.

Hardness at the contest and throwing body to the ball were trademarks of Chad Cornes in his heyday as a footballer, and they were on full show on Friday night from his newly bestowed team.

The convincing win will lift the playing group's confidence ahead of gruelling SANFL and AFL seasons, and create healthy competition for spots leading into the opening round of games for the Power and Magpies on the Easter long weekend.

The Magpies will play an internal trial at Alberton Oval on Thursday 10 March. 

Port Adelaide's youth brigade was on show, including players like Tom Gray [pic: Chris Kelly/portadelaidefc.com.au] 

MATCH REVIEW

FIRST QUARTER

Port Adelaide's first quarter got off to a shaky start, despite fielding its most experienced side with well-known AFL-listed players like Carlile, Polec and Schulz spending some time on the field in the Power's week off.

West Adelaide's ball movement was slicker than the Magpies' from the first bounce and Port's midfield lacked intensity.

The Bloods went on to boot three successive goals off the back of some undisciplined free kicks given away on Port Adelaide's behalf and at times poor defensive work.

It may have taken almost 20 minutes for Port Adelaide to hit back, but through Polec, Summerton, Sharrad and Stewart, the Magpie midfield fired.

Amon hit the scoreboard then Butcher got in the action, booting two majors in succession.

An intercept from Carlile in the attacking half and pinpoint passing from Polec led to a Schulz goal and allowed the Magpies to have its nose in front at half time.

SECOND QUARTER

The Magpies flew out of the blocks in the second quarter, with Jared Polec continuing to lead.

He broke free from tackles, used his pace to duck and weave away from his opposition and his precision with the ball set up two of the Magpies’ four second-term goals.

It wasn’t just Port Adelaide’s AFL-listed players who made an impact during the second quarter though.

Captain Steve Summerton applied some influential forward-line pressure and was also able to get on the end of a major himself.

The Bloods were held scoreless until midway through the second term, but it was some class shown by Tom Gray which stole the spotlight reel for the game thus far.

Gray was juggling a bouncing ball along the boundary line, scooped up possession and snapped around the body just inside 50 for a goal.

His major gave the visitors a 25-point half time buffer.

THIRD QUARTER

The Magpies produced an inspired term, holding the Bloods to just three points, while managing to boot four more goals.

Port Adelaide's hard tackling and determination to win every 50/50 contest would have pleased the new coach and the club's fans.

The pressure helped the visitors create lots of space in the third term and West Adelaide was unable to keep up.

Port Adelaide shared its goals around, but this quarter it was Paul Stewart producing some brilliance around the boundary.

He ran onto a bouncing ball, tapped it to his advantage and snapped a goal.

After a few chip kicks in the forward line midway through, Cam Hewett marked and kicked his first goal as a Port Adelaide player, albeit in a trial game.

The Magpies led by 48 points at the final change.

 

Aaron Young attacks the football on Friday night [pic: Chris Kelly/portadelaidefc.com.au] 

FOURTH QUARTER

Mid-way through the final term, a scuffle broke out and Carlile was sent off for a bloodruleb, while Butcher was forced to replace his guernsey after it was ripped.

That didn't stop the tall forward from continuing his impact, setting up a goal and marking in the goal square to kick his fourth.

Robbie Young was also impressive, forcing many turnovers in the midfield with strong tackles and he gave his opponent no room to move. 

The Magpies will have a week’s rest before kicking off their 2016 campaign against Norwood on March 24.

TRIAL GAME SCOREBOARD

PORT ADELAIDE                    4.0        8.5        12.6       18.11 (119)
WEST ADELAIDE                   3.3        4.3         4.6         4.9 (33)

PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU’S BEST
Polec, Butcher, Sharrad, Stewart, R Young

GOALS
Butcher 4, Sharrad 3, T. Gray 2, Amon, Schulz, Colquhoun, Palmer, Summerton, Hewett, Polec, Stewart, A. Young

VENUE
Richmond Oval