PORT ADELAIDE has gone down to Glenelg by 39 points in a hard-fought contest at Alberton Oval.
The Magpies were buoyed by the return of Orazio Fantasia, but were hampered by late outs, with Tom Corcoran, Miller Carter, Sam Skinner (health and safety protocols) and Ollie Lord (hamstring) all missing from the selected side.
They were replaced by debutant Aidan Turner, Mac Nield, Jake Westbrook and assistant coach Matthew Lobbe.
The Magpies were under siege in the opening term by a more experienced Tigers outfit, but pressure from Cam Sutcliffe and Ethan and Nick Moore was proving handy.
Glenelg butchered opportunities in front of goal, but so did Port early on, with the first goal not booted until halfway through the term, via the visitors.
The Tigers couldn’t find the big sticks, booting 1.5 on top of two complete misses out of bounds, but still led by nine points at the first change.
Coach Matthew Lokan then unleashed Fantasia and his x-factor in the midfield, as the crumb from Dante Visentini found the silky small forward, ran to 50 and shot, but it fell agonisingly short.
It would be a sign to come for the Magpies however, as their rampant pressure finally got some reward.
Hugh Jackson won a free kick for holding the ball and threaded a needle to find the leading Visentini, who made no mistake for the Magpies’ first.
Fantasia once again would receive the crumb from the middle, run to the 50 and shoot in what resembled an Aussie Rules video game more than real life, but again missed to the left.
The Magpies gained the lead through a kick out of nothing from late change Nield, as he put it on the boot and it bounced home.
It was a rampant period for the hosts, as Dylan Williams would also mark and convert and his side led by 13 points.
However, Glenelg soon composed itself and Matthew Snook was the beneficiary of a 25-metre penalty, making no mistake from the set shot.
The Tigers took the lead with Lachlan Hosie booting his second, again following a 25-metre penalty, and his side took a two-point lead into the main change.
The Magpies were dominating the hit-outs at the change, and were more efficient from their inside 50s, registering nine scores from 13 entries in the first half.
Port would snatch back the lead instantly to start the third, when a missed shot landed in Lobbe’s lap before running around to snap it home.
Fantasia would have a set shot moments later which looked set for home, but faded late and then the Tigers took control.
Hosie would snag his third and fourth in quick succession and they never looked back.
Jack Hannath goaled from a free kick before Luke Reynolds and Luke Partington also slotted goals for the visiting side.
Anthony Wilson would’ve had a contender for goal of the year had he converted. After a remarkable run from the wing, a number of bounces and weaving through many opponents, he missed the finishing product.
Fantasia had a shot after the three-quarter-time siren to give the Magpies a pulse, but missed to the right and Glenelg’s lead was 22 points.
The game was still in Port’s reach, but could only muster two rushed behinds to start the final term.
Neither side could find the goals as a midfield arm wrestle took place, with the Tigers controlling the ball behind the play with composure.
The game was sealed 13 minutes into the last with Hosie slotting his fifth, giving his side an insurmountable 26-point lead.
Liam McBean put the foot down with two late goals.
For the valiant and inexperienced Magpies, Ethan Moore amassed 25 touches, while Nick Moore had 11 tackles along with his 17 disposals.
Next week, Port travels to Prospect to face North Adelaide.
SCOREBOARD
Port Adelaide 0.2 3.6 4.11 4.13 (37)
Glenelg 1.5 3.8 8.9 11.10 (76)
Port Adelaide
Goals: Lobbe, Nield, Visentini, Williams.
Best: McEntee, E. Moore, N. Moore, Fantasia, Weidemann.
