PORT Adelaide has come away from the Riverland with a 24-point victory over West Adelaide in a special SANFL Russell Ebert tribute match.
The win came with some casualties, with both Jackson Lee and Sam Skinner ruled out mid-game with injuries, leading to a make-shift defensive structure to end the game.
The Bloods closed to within two goals before a last quarter surge saw the Magpies run away to win 15.15 (105) to 12.9 (81).
The Magpies charged out of the blocks, with key forward Charlie Dixon taking a towering mark on the 50-metre arc and sending it home in the opening two minutes.
Ollie Lord mimicked his exact effort on the opposite side for Port’s second before Dante Visentini had reason to celebrate with his first goal in the famous prison bar guernsey.
It was all one-way traffic in the first term, with Cam Sutcliffe and Xavier Duursma finding plenty of the ball – each with 10 touches at the quarter-time break.
Duursma added to the remarkable Magpies highlight reel with another terrific set shot to make it 25-0 partway through the first term.
Lee would then go off after landing awkwardly in a marking contest and took no further part in the match.
Mitch Maguire would end West’s barren run, but his side still trailed by 16 points at the first change.
The second term was a goal-kicking bonanza, with the two sides combining for 10 goals.
Taj Schofield crumbed and snapped the first home before Dixon slotted his second from another set shot.
The Bloods then began to get into the game with some fierce counter-attacking, kicking the next two goals through Maguire and Josh Gore.
Dixon was showing he belonged in the Riverland as much as the Murray itself by securing his third to halt West’s run.
After 10 goalless minutes, many came in a flash.
Dylan Williams kicked something out of nothing from the pack, before doubling his tally just seconds later after a missed snap fell in his lap and he converted.
Duursma then joined the party with a massive roost from 50 and Port’s lead was out to 39 points.
Jackson Edwards would goal just before half-time for the Bloods, which started a run which continued into the second half.
Despite trailing by 34 points at the main change, West came back at Port hard.
Edwards, Tom Keough, Josh Carmichael and Gore all brought the game back to a 12-point margin.
With the Magpies under siege with their makeshift defence in the absence of Skinner and Lee, Jake Weidemann and Luke Surman took charge of the backline along with young Jase Burgoyne and Miles Bergman.
Former Port player Hamish Hartlett missed a shot on goal from 50 which would’ve made it a goal the margin, before Jackson Mead halted the Bloods’ run with a remarkable set shot from the pocket.
The Magpies had a 17-point lead, but were struggling to hold on to the momentum.
It showed early as Gore kicked his third for the Bloods just seconds into the final term.
Williams sent one through the big sticks from 50, but the Bloods continued to come.
Jade Cleeland converted for West, but it was all black and white delight from there.
Dixon twice, Ethan Moore and Sutcliffe all missed opportunities before Jed McEntee dribbled one home in style to crush West’s hopes.
Williams would add a remarkable goal from the pocket to make it four for the day before Marty Frederick kicked one himself on the back of a remarkable counter attack from Taj Schofield.
Xavier Duursma was awarded the Russell Ebert medal as best on ground as skipper Cam Sutcliffe hoisted a special trophy created in his honour after the game.
SCOREBOARD
Port Adelaide 4.1 10.7 11.11 15.15 (105)
West Adelaide 1.3 5.3 9.6 12.9 (81)
Port Adelaide
Goals: Williams 4, Dixon 3, Duursma 2, Frederick, Lord, McEntee, Mead, Schofield, Visentini.
Best: Duursma, Schofield, Sutcliffe, Frederick, Surman
