PORT ADELAIDE SANFL coach Matthew Lokan was pleased with the way his side responded after quarter time in Saturday night’s qualifying final victory over Adelaide.

Port trailed in the early stages of the game, but nine goals to five after the first break saw the Magpies run out 30-points winners at Adelaide Oval, and Lokan lauded his side’s effort against a strong Crows side.

“Adelaide came at us and threw everything at us, especially early in the game,” Lokan told SEN SA’s Breakfast program on Monday morning.

“I was really pleased with our boys and the effort to persist, and finish off the game the way we did.”

Lokan was full of praise for recently re-signed Port ruckman Peter Ladhams, who was brilliant on Saturday with 23 touches, 23 hit-outs, six clearances, four marks and two goals.

“He’s almost like an extra midfielder the way he plays,” he said.

“Around the ground he is very hard to stop. That goal he kicked on the run was like a half forward.

“We’ve been really pleased with the way he has developed this year, and really happy with the way he played on the weekend.”

The coach was also pleased with the defensive jobs of Trent McKenzie and Joel Garner, who helped keep Adelaide’s dangerous forward line to just 15 scoring shots for the game.

“Trent has been outstanding - I think he would be high up in our best and fairest,” Lokan said of McKenzie’s season.

“His ability to mark the ball, and he obviously uses it so well. Recently he has been playing a really important defensive role for us.

“Him and Joel Garner flipped off Fogarty and Himmelberg - when he was down there - and I thought they both did a really good job.

“It was a big reason why we won the game.”

The Magpies will now face Glenelg in the semi final on Sunday afternoon, and Lokan knows while the club’s momentum is strong, the Bays are a good side.

“We are really excited - Glenelg have been the most in-form side in the competition this year,” he said.

“They’ve beaten us twice, so we’ve got to really look hard at them this week and get a game-plan and style that suits.

“We are really looking forward to the opportunity of playing the best side in the competition.

“Our guys are riding the wave at the moment. The back half of the year has been really strong.”