PORT ADELAIDE SANFL coach Matthew Lokan has praised the effort of his players despite just falling short against South Adelaide at Noarlunga on Sunday.
The Magpies led at each change before the Panthers kicked the final four goals of the game to run away 10.9 (69) to 9.6 (60) winners.
Port Adelaide boasted only 10 AFL-listed players, four of whom have not played at that level, in the trip to Noarlunga.
The Magpies led at the first change – something they had not done in over a month - after booting the opening two goals of the game, and were in front for most of the game before being reeled in in the last term.
“If you've watched us over the last six weeks, we've been really inconsistent with our game,” Lokan said after the game.
“We kept it really simple (on Sunday) and we knew we needed to make it a real contested fight.
“At the end of the day, a couple of turnovers cost us the game which is the reality with a young team.
“Sometimes you make mistakes, but in regards to their effort and playing the right way, I was really, really proud of our young guys today.”
Lokan said given the effort from his side, the final result hurt.
With a flat changeroom post-game, the coach said he spoke to his team about the progress their young players have made across the campaign.
“The boys hate losing,” he said. “Led by Sutts (Cam Sutcliffe), our boys were really disappointed in losing the game, especially when we were in a winnable position.
“I tried to bring it back to the way that we played and you look at Hugh Jackson and his improvement over the last 10 weeks.
“We had Nathan Barkla and Kye Roberts come play who've been playing under 18s football this year and to be able to give them exposure to league football and play at a high standard for most of the game was really pleasing.”
Sam Mayes put in another outstanding performance with 34 disposals, six tackles, five clearances and a goal and skipper Sutcliffe had 27 touches, five tackles, seven clearances and two majors.
Father-son recruit Taj Schofield also impressed with 18 touches and a goal, while the Magpies’ tackling machine Nick Moore had nine tackles, 20 touches and two goals.
“Taj Schofield's second half was really good,” Lokan said of the son of 2004 premiership player Jarrad Schofield.
“He's starting to develop as a young half-forward, and half-forward is a really hard position to play.
“Guys like Shai Bolton play that role and Taj is starting to grow in that spot.
“Nick Moore is one of those players that you want to play with every week. He puts his body where I wouldn't put my big toe sometimes and he's been really consistent as one of our contracted guys this year.
“We were led really well by Sam Mayes and Cam Sutcliffe today, Trent McKenzie I thought was super for us and the young guys followed.”
Port Adelaide will close out its SANFL season with the Showdown at Adelaide Oval from 3:20pm as a curtain raiser to AFL Showdown LII.
