PORT ADELAIDE has come from a 21-point half time deficit to defeat reigning premiers Sturt by seven points at Alberton Oval on Sunday afternoon.
The Magpies started spritely against the Double Blues, leading by four points late in the first quarter before James Battersby gave the visitors the advantage after the siren.
Sturt’s midfield started to get on top in the second term, with Sam Colquhoun and Zane Kirkwood racking up plenty of the footy, while Shane McAdam kicked three of his four goals.
The Double Blues kicked four goals to one in the second quarter to lead by 21 points at the main break.
Karl Amon gathered 15 disposals in the first half for the Magpies, while Steven Summerton (13), Jimmy Toumpas (12), and Dom Barry (12) also found plenty of it.
Watts was prominent in the forward line kicking two goals among seven possessions.
After a sluggish start to the third term, Sturt managed to kick the first goal - ten minutes in - to extend their lead to 27 points, which appeared to give them complete ascendancy of the contest.
From that point, the Magpies kicked seven unanswered goals to turn the match on its head.
Watts added his third, while Kane Farrell and Aidyn Johnson were menacing in the forward half - kicking three goals between them.
Jack Trengove put the home side in front from a set shot early in the last quarter, and they held on for a gutsy 7-point win on a cold and blustery day at Alberton.
Trengove was again superb, gathering 27 disposals, 13 marks, six tackles and two goals, while Watts was dominant in the forward half.
Playing his first game in the SANFL, the former Demon kicked 3.2 from 17 touches and eight marks.
Skipper Steven Summerton continued to lead from the front, collecting 26 possessions and 10 marks, while Barry (27) and Amon (25) were also prolific.
It was an important win for the Magpies, with the win seeing them move to sixth on the ladder - three points behind fourth-placed Sturt.
Port Adelaide host Norwood on Sunday, July 1 at 2.10pm in Round 12.
SCORECARD
Port Adelaide 2.4 3.4 6.5 10.7 (67)
Sturt 3.0 7.1 8.2 9.6 (60)
GOALS
Watts 3, Farrell, Trengove 2, Johnson, Neade, Patmore
BEST
Trengove, Watts, Summerton, Barry, Amon, Toumpas, Atley
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