FORTY-THREE touches to Kane Mitchell and a three-goal haul from Luke Reynolds were highlights of Port Adelaide's return to the SANFL winners' list with a 57-point victory over North Adelaide on Sunday.

Mitchell led from the front all day at Prospect Oval - not only quelling the influence of Roosters' midfielder Jordie McKenzie, but stamping his authority at the stoppages with 12 clearances and four marks.

Reynolds shared the goal-kicking duties against North with 12 teammates to help record the Magpies' largest winning margin of 2016.

The match was all but sewed up in the first half as Port booted 9.6 and kept the Roosters to just 2.3.

North mounted a challenge midway through the third term and, thanks to former Port forward Mitch Harvey, narrowed a 51-point deficit to 31 points.

But the visitors withstood the challenge to heap on the goals to claim its seventh victory for the season.

AFL-listed Matthew Lobbe shouldered the ruck work for the entire match and was impressive with 48 hit-outs 19 disposals, 11 tackles and five clearances.

First-year player Riley Bonner held his own in the backline, ending the clash with four defensive rebounds and 17 disposals.

Port Adelaide travels plays Glenelg next Saturday at Gliderol Stadium at 1.40pm.

As it happened

First Quarter

In near-perfect conditions at Prospect Oval, both Port Adelaide and North Adelaide were playing as though it was wet weather football. Dropped marks and mis-kicks plagued the teams early and it took until just over 11 minutes for a goal to be scored.

The goal came from Luke Reynolds who took a strong mark inside 50.

Port increased its pressure and started tackling and chasing harder, but then wasted opportunities going forward.

Jake Neade casually strolled into goal from a slight angle and his major was quickly followed up by a snap from Reynolds after a centre bounce clearance by the Magpies.

Goals to Riley Bonner and Jesse Palmer helped Port open up a 32-point lead.

Jonathon Hayes kicked North’s first goal just seconds before the quarter-time siren sounded.

Port held a 26-point advantage at the first change.

Second Quarter

Kane Mitchell led from the front in the second term and, together with Jimmy Toumpas, gave Port the advantage at the stoppages.

Steve Summerton got the Magpies off to a great start, kicking his first goal for the afternoon and a free kick to Matthew Lobbe inside 50 led to Port taking a 39-point lead with just 12 minutes gone on the clock.

Lobbe was not only winning the hit-outs (25-17), but he also worked hard at ground level and ended the quarter with four clearances.

Callum Wilkie was awarded a free kick inside North’s attacking 50 and slotted their second, but Port hit back quickly as Schulz slotted his first from a set shot. Matt White was also influential in the midfield, ending the quarter with 15 disposals.

The Magpies extended their lead to 45 points at the main break.

Third Quarter

The Magpies started the third term with a bang, continuing their dominance at the stoppages and allowing Steven Summerton to set up Will Snelling with a chance at walking into open goal..

Port’s skills looked cleaner early in the third term and they were able to quickly move the ball by hand with ease into attack.

However, not long after Snelling’s goal, Alex Barns won a free inside the Rooster’s attacking 50 and made no mistake.

Some sloppy defence from the Magpies led to Harvey booting two goals to narrow Port’s lead to 31 points.

Robbie Young got a goal back for Port and the youngster was quick to follow up in the next contest chasing down his opponent to win a free for holding the ball.

Young’s hard work led to Reynolds’ third before Hewett got his name on the score sheet, to give the Magpies a 48-point buffer at three-quarter time.

Fourth Quarter

The Magpies were ruthless in the final quarter and attacked the ball hard.

The Roosters could only manage one a goal during the final term, and it was Harvey's third which came three and a half minutes in.

From then on, it was all Port Adelaide as they tackled hard and ran even harder to spread and create options for their teammates.

Rudloff, Summerton and Toumpas were Port's goal kickers this term Sharrad stepped up this quarter, but it was Mitchell who outworked his opponent to rack up another 10 disposals and end the game with 44.

Port's ability to use the ball with more precision and be harder at the contest led to a 57-point margin at the final siren.

Scoreboard

Port Adelaide   5.4  9.6  13.7  16.10 (106)
North Adelaide 1.2  2.3  6.7   7.8     (50)

Goals

Reynolds 3, Neade, Summerton 2, Schulz, Bonner, Palmer, Lobbe, Snelling, R Young, Hewett, Rudloff, Toumpas

portadelaidefc.com.au's best

Mitchell, Lobbe, Summerton, Sharrad, Palmer, Snelling, Reynolds, Bonner

Injuries

Nil

 

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