Belligerents
PORT ADELAIDEYear to date: LWWWWW
Last five at ground: WLWWW
Currently ranked: 1st
SOUTH ADELAIDE
Year to date: WWWWLW
Last five at ground: LLWLL
Currently ranked: 2nd
HEAD TO HEAD
Magpies 246 v 98 Panthers (Drawn 13)
LAST FIVE
Magpies 5 v 1 Panthers
PLAYBILL
SANFL IGA League – Round 7Port Adelaide v South Adelaide
Saturday 17 May
First bounce: 2:10pm
Academy: 11:25am
Hashtags: #pafclive #portsouth
Tickets at the gate: $14 general admission, $8 concession, U18 free
Broadcast: Seven
PRE-GAME SWOOPERS FUNCTION
The Swoopers – an important coterie run by former club players and a sponsor of the club will hold a pre-game function at the Port Club. More information here.FINAL SAY
This is going to be a fantastic battle between two sides playing exciting football. On the one hand Garry Hocking's Magpies have managed to string five weeks of consistent, attack-from-defence football, with a range of players putting their hand up each week.
His side is led by Steven Summerton who has produced career-best form for the Magpies and is combining it with strong on-field leadership in the famous No. 1 guernsey to keep Port Adelaide on course when the going has been tough in the second quarters.
That's an area Hocking will focus on this week - the Magpies haven't been world beaters after quarter time, and he'll call on his players to produce the four-quarter effort he demands from the side.
On the other hand is Brad Gotch's South.
Gotch, a former defensive coach and opposition analyst for Port Adelaide in the AFL, has one of the best footy brains going around, and it shows.
The new-look Panthers have conceded 13 points fewer than the Magpies this year - they're second only in score conceded - and league leading goal kicker Brett Eddy is poised to cause headaches for the Port Adelaide defence this weekend.
Expect to see Tom Clurey get the job on him after stints on Taylor Walker and Matt Duldig in the past fortnight.
South may also welcome back Darcy Hourigan, Dale Frazer and Lachlan Boyd this week, which may provide an extra boost to their side.
The Magpies, more than anything, need to stick to their proven game style this weekend, and with the Power having the AFL bye, it will be a perfect opportunity for Port Adelaide supporters to see the only senior game for the club on Saturday afternoon - a Magpies side full of young talented stars and seasoned SANFL performers who have been in excellent touch.
