PORT ADELAIDE has left Glenelg with the two points after a stunning two-point victory over the previously undefeated Tigers.
The Magpies were buoyed by the return of captain Cam Sutcliffe and Tom Corcoran, with the former amassing 10 tackles and 14 disposals in an inspirational game in the guts.
Port burst out of the blocks in style as young midfielder Taj Schofield crumbed and snapped truly.
Jase Burgoyne then followed up a minute later with a terrific contested mark and kicked through the big sticks to give the Magpies an early buffer.
The Tigers were fumbling and errant with their ball movement, but Lachlan Hosie got his side on the board midway through the quarter.
However, the term belonged to the Magpies.
Dylan Williams crumbed his own ball and rifled it home in an effort which would’ve made Tim Cahill proud, before Sam Mayes scooped the ball up from the pack and snapped home for his side’s fourth in a terrific opening term.
Makeshift ruck Luke Surman was doing work in the middle as the Magpies led the hitouts and inside 50s at quarter-time and importantly, led by 21 points on the scoreboard.
Glenelg began to find its groove in the second, as Cooper Horsnell and Hosie kicked back-to-back goals to cut the margin to eight points.
Both sides butchered opportunities in the middle of the term, kicking two behinds apiece before Schofield, from a counterattack against the run of play, marked and converted for his second.
The Tigers, albeit inaccurate, clawed back again through Riley Holder, as their dominance in the midfield took control and the margin was back to four at the main change.
The two sides continued to exchange blows in an action packed third quarter, as Jed McEntee, who had a busy term, kicked the first of the quarter.
The Tigers responded through a swift counter attack which allowed Cole Gerloff to goal.
Ollie Lord showcased why many inside Alberton are excited by his continued development in the difficult key forward position with a sensational pack mark in the goal square before converting the goal.
Liam McBean got his first of the day after being well held by Jake Pasini, running into open goal.
However, the highlight came from livewire Williams, who marked on 50 and booted truly from 55 to send the visiting fans into raptures.
Despite that, a costly turnover in the middle allowed Hosie to counter and kick his third to leave it a point the margin at the final change.
The last term started in style with Lord marking on 50 and smashing it home from distance to give the Magpies some momentum.
A change by coach Matthew Lokan saw Lachie Jones go into the midfield to use his strength around the ball and it paid dividends.
Williams took a mark of the year contender in the square and sent the ball through the big sticks to blow the margin out to 14 points midway through the term.
However, the Tigers weren’t done.
Hosie responded quickly for his fourth and moments later had his fifth to set up a nail-biting finish at the end.
After a missed chance for Williams at one end, the Tigers countered, with Hugh Stagg’s dribbler missing the goals by centimetres.
Sam Mayes was massive in the middle with 28 touches with his goal, while Jones produced many strong moments and had 20 disposals in his time in the engine room.
He added seven marks to his stat sheet, while Ollie Lord had six.
SCOREBOARD
Port Adelaide 4.2 5.4 8.5 10.9 (69)
Glenelg 1.1 4.6 7.10 9.12 (66)
Port Adelaide
Goals: Williams 3, Lord, Schofield 2, Mayes, McEntee, J. Burgoyne
Best: Surman, Pasini, Lee, Mayes, Jones
