PORT ADELAIDE has fallen to North Adelaide by four points in a thrilling contest at Prospect Oval in captain Steven Summerton’s final SANFL game.
Having trailed early in the contest by 19 points, the Magpies hit back with six unanswered goals but it was the home side who booted four of the last five goals to claim victory.
The Roosters shot out of the blocks early to kick the first two goals of the contest, but Aidyn Johnson answered soon after for the Magpies.
The home side continued to own the ball through the middle and dominated the inside 50s, taking a 16-point advantage into the first change.
Skipper Summerton was very busy in the opening quarter collecting 14 possessions, while Jimmy Toumpas (10), Riley Bonner (9), and Jack Trengove (9) were also productive.
Peter Ladhams opened the scoring in the second quarter with a strong contested grab in the square but Mitch Harvey responded with his third for North.
Both sides traded good periods of possession of the footy, before goals to Simon Wong, Trengove, Summerton, and Ladhams late in the first half gave the Magpies a two-point lead at the main break.
Port started the second half as they left the first, booting the opening two goals through Michael Ortiz and Jake Patmore to open up a 16-point lead.
North hit back before Lindsay Thomas kicked his first of the match with 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
It was a stalemate from there, with the Magpies taking a 15-point advantage into the final term.
The Roosters ran out the contest the stronger of two sides in the final term, kicking four of the last five goals before Cam Hewett had a shot after the siren from 60m but failed to score.
Summerton finished with 34 touches and a goal in his final game, while Toumpas (34) and Trengove (31) were also among the best.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 2.1 7.4 10.7 11.8 (74)
NORTH ADELAIDE 4.5 6.8 7.10 11.12 (78)
GOALS
Ladhams, Trengove 2, Johnson, Morgan, Ortiz, Patmore, Summerton, Thomas, Wong
BEST
Summerton, Trengove, Toumpas, Ladhams, Johnson
