Port Adelaide coach Tyson Goldsack said he was delighted with how his team ‘banded together’ under a mounting injury toll, as it claimed its first win of the season with a 17-point victory over West Adelaide in the Russell Ebert Tribute Game in Loxton.

The Magpies were left with two on the bench for the second half after Scott Lycett went down with a back issue and Jake Pasini copped a corked thigh.

Fortunately, they were able to build a 46-point half time advantage and hold on to win 12.13 (85) to 10.8 (68).

Goldsack said his pre-game meeting was heavily focused on the late, great Ebert and how the players could channel some of his traits in their game.

“Pre-game was focused on Russell Ebert and how special he was as a player, but his mentality going into games wasn’t about how much I can get the ball and how much I can show off my talents,” Goldsack explained.

“He was more about being hard working and being a good teammate, so the pre-game was about how when he couldn’t get the ball, he’d make his teammates better with shepherding, blocking or whatever he had to do.

“He was so industrious with how he went about it and so consistent with a high amount of energy.

“If they could take a little bit of Russell Ebert out there and play that style then we’ll be okay. The way the cards fell, we were two down and banded together.”

Young forward Tom Scully won the Russell Ebert Medal for his four-goal effort against the club he was drafted from and Goldsack said it was a special performance.

“He was good, when the game was in the balance early, he was there and gave us great contest, which he’s been a little bit inconsistent with,” he said.

“He turned up, brought a couple of balls to ground and followed up.

“He was special for us today. For him it’s great work, he’s worked so hard over the last four weeks and we saw it today.”

The Magpies looked impressive from the first bounce, and it took no time for young mid Hugh Jackson to open the account for the day.

West responded with its first through Liam Delahunty but from then, Port held the ball in their attacking half and restricted the Bloods from entering forward 50.

Scully then, after an earlier miss, took a terrific contested mark and finished the job.

Cody Szust made it back-to-back majors for the Magpies before Scully slotted his second to set up a 21-point lead midway through the first term.

Sam Hayes continued to add to Port’s highlight reel with a one-handed pluck which would’ve made most wicketkeepers happy and followed it up with the goal.

The Magpies led by 27 points at the first change and looked in complete control.

The second quarter was again one-way traffic as Port continued to pepper the goals.

Jake Weidemann and Francis Evans missed opportunities, but Scully, who was fast becoming the man of the moment, crumbed from a spilled ball to quickly snap through his third.

The Magpies were dominant around the ground and in the guts, led by Jackson who had 15 touches to half-time to go with his goal.

Jackson centred a ball to the uncontested Jackson Mead at the top of the square, who converted, with the margin blowing out to 40 points.

Evans capped off an impressive half for his side with a mammoth roost from 50 metres, and the lead was 46 points at the main change.

However, Port’s depth was soon to be tested with Lycett ruled out for the rest of the game with a back concern in addition to defender Pasini with a cork.

Early in the third, it didn’t look as if it’d faze the Magpies, as Evans made it two goals in-a-row with a neat snap in the pocket.

Yet, the Bloods began to claw their way back into the contest and the shoe was soon on the other foot.

The Magpies were unable to exit defensive 50, and when they did, the ball would come back with interest.

Josh Gore converted West’s second of the game and it started the momentum swing.

Delahunty, Isaac Johnson and Gore added majors to cut the lead to 21 points at the final change and needing a spark, Jed Hagan provided it for the Magpies, wrestling a ball out of a deep pack in the square and snapping it home to halt West’s run of five straight goals.

Gore responded almost instantly for his third as the two sides started going goal for goal.

Scully, after missing from a tough angle, then marked on the lead from a piercing Brayden Kirk entry, to slot his fourth.

Kobe Ryan and Gore slotted back-to-back majors for the Bloods to cut the margin but Mead became the clutch finisher, snapping high out of the pack on his left to seal victory.

Goldsack added he was pleased with debutant Murphy Short, who came to the club from the CMS Crows.

“I thought he was good,” the coach said. “I would’ve liked to get him some more mid time, he played more time at half-forward, which is probably not his one-wood, but if he can get some more inside time we’ll see some more out of him.

“He showed up and was ready to play.”

The Magpies next tackle winless Norwood at Alberton Oval on Saturday afternoon.

SCOREBOARD

Port Adelaide     5.3         8.8         9.11       12.13     (85)

West Adelaide   1.0         1.4         6.8         10.8       (68)

Goals: Scully 4, Evans, Mead 2, Hagan, Hayes, Jackson, Szust.

Best: Scully, Jackson, Visentini, Sinn, Evans, Clurey.