JEREMY FINLAYSON starred despite Port Adelaide succumbing to a fast-finishing South Adelaide by 10 points in Round 2 of the SANFL competition.
The Panthers booted five goals to one in the final term to overrun the Magpies in warm conditions at Alberton Oval.
Finlayson turned it up for his best game in Port colours, booting six in addition to 15 touches.
Kane Farrell also enjoyed a strong return in his first game back from surgery to fix a ruptured ACL nine months ago with 17 disposals, five marks and three tackles.
South got off to the better start as Jye Menzie opened the scoring after 90 seconds.
However, the Magpies weren’t eager on letting the Panthers hold the lead for long as Dylan Williams let loose from 50 out.
Despite a quickfire double from the visitors, Ollie Lord would steady the ship after a strong pack mark and goal.
The Magpies would finish the term in style, with Nick Moore snapping neatly out of the pack, before Finlayson and Williams found the big sticks to take a five-point lead into the first break.
That lead quickly disappeared as Menzie slotted his second for South.
Finlayson’s second moments later would give the Magpies the lead back before the Panthers rallied.
Port looked on the ropes as South piled on three straight before Finlayson and Hayes pulled the margin back to four points at the main change as both sides showed there was plenty of feeling in the contest.
The third term belonged to Finlayson as the former GWS Giant took the game by the scruff of the neck and made it his own.
He’d kick one from a solid mark inside 50 before reeling onto his trusty left for a snap to convert his fifth at the seven-minute mark.
Marty Frederick pulled out some party tricks of his own with an impressive long goal and even more impressive celebration before Finlayson slotted goal number six to send the Alberton faithful into raptures.
Cam Sutcliffe continued his strong captain’s performance to kick his first after some missed opportunities and suddenly after a run of six straight goals, the margin was out to 28.
South wrestled the momentum back as Menzie kicked his fourth and fifth goals, with the margin cut to 10 points at the final break.
Against the momentum, Tom Corcoran stepped up and made the moment his as he slotted a magnificent major from 50 for the home side.
South refused to lie down, as Reece Slape capitalised on a turnover to cut it to 12 points.
Another two majors from Damon Freitag and Ryan Garthwaite meant Port’s lead was down to a point and desperation saw Corcoran flattened in a heavy collision with teammate Sam Skinner.
He left the field in the hands of the trainers as two late behinds gave Port a two-point lead at the 25-minute mark and nerves were aplenty among the crowd.
Despite the desperation of the defence, the Panthers capitalised to put themselves in front, through Menzie before Bryce Gibbs kicked the sealer from the pocket.
SCOREBOARD
Port Adelaide 5.2 8.9 13.12 14.17 (101)
South Adelaide 4.3 9.6 12.8 17.9 (111)
Port Adelaide
Goals: Finlayson 6, Williams 2, Sutcliffe, N. Moore, Corcoran, Frederick, Hayes, Lord.
Best: Finlayson, Sutcliffe, Weidemann, Dumont, Frederick
