First Quarter

GWS got the game going early, winning the first clearance and booting it straight into their forward 50. Smart positioning from their skipper Callan Ward earned him a free kick for being held, and he finished with a major from 40m out.

The Giants’ momentum was strong early on as they dominated the play, while the Power was clearly lacking intensity from the first bounce.

A snap from the left pocket to big man Steve Johnson and an easy set shot to Coniglio for a push in the back by Ebert left the Power goalless to the Giants’ three.

The Power managed to gain some control, answering GWS’ strong start with two back-to-back Wingard goals and tightening up their play.



Aaron Young was chased down by two Giants’ after a long boot into the 50, and awarded a free for a sling tackle from Heath Shaw. It was advanced 50m and he slotted the Power’s third.

Poor decision making, a disposal efficiency of 47 per cent and loose defence left the Power trailing GWS by 23 points at the quarter break.

Second Quarter

While early signs of more structured play would have had Port Adelaide fans hopeful for a strong quarter, the second term saw the Power fall deeper into deficit as the Giants unleashed an absolute goal fest.

With eight goals to the Power’s two, GWS were producing slick, attacking play and hitting the scoreboard time and again, and the Power simply couldn’t answer.

Giant Rhys Palmer slotted their first, stretching their lead to 29 points within the first two minutes of the second term, followed by another to Lobb.

Aaron Young worked hard for the Power, rescuing a lost ball in the forward 50 and dishing it to Neade, who booted his first for the year.

The next came from Jasper Pittard charging up-field through traffic, dropping a flat one to Dixon which slipped through the big man’s hands – but Young picked up the crumbs and slotted the Power’s fifth.



But what followed was six unanswered majors to the Giants (including back-to-back goals to Griffen), with Port Adelaide simply outperformed in every part of the game.

Their 44 inside 50s to the Power’s 15 says it all – Port Adelaide could barely get the ball in their offensive half.

Giants led by 61 points at the major break.

Half time

Port Adelaide  3.1 (19)     5.3 (33)
GWS               6.6 (42)     14.10 (94)
Goals: Young, Wingard 2, Neade 1
Disposals: Westhoff 13, Wines 12, R Gray, Byrne-Jones 11


Third Quarter

While GWS’s accuracy in front of goal dipped in the third term (they kicked two goals to eight points) it still continued to dominate play and consistently find its big men in the forward 50.

Boak was first to get his hands on the ball at the centre bounce, and sent it straight to Westhoff who converted the Power’s first for the quarter– cutting the margin to 55 points.

Shorter, cleaner play coming out of defence early on made for better ball movement for the Power, but they still consistently failed to hit targets across the ground.

Neade managed to slot a second after juggling a one-handed mark inside 50, but GWS responded almost immediately with an undefended burst through the corridor from Callan Ward, resulting in yet another Giant goal.

The inside 50 count sat at 61 to 25 at three-quarter time, in the Giants’ favour – they extended their lead by five points.



Fourth Quarter

While Jasper Pittard and Jack Hombsch worked consistently hard in the backlines with 32 and 21 touches each, the Power’s team defence across the ground was nowhere to be seen.

Conceding a whopping six goals in the final term, the Power’s lack of pressure and intensity failed to improve.

Charlie Dixon and Chad Wingard couldn’t capitalise on the few early opportunities the Power created inside 50, but Darcy Byrne-Jones managed to slot one after picking up a loose ball from a Polec spoil.

Dixon goaled in the final three minutes of the game for his only major for the match, and the Power’s last.

Meanwhile the Giants’ Greene, Steele, Shiel, Scully, Palmer and Lobb all hit the scoreboard in the final term to help achieve the Giants’ biggest ever score and victory.



Full time

SCOREBOARD
Port Adelaide   3.1 (19)    5.3 (33)    7.6 (48)      9.11 (65)
GWS                6.6 (42)    14.10 (94) 16.18 (114) 22.19 (151)

Goals: Wingard, Young, Neade 2, Dixon, Westhoff, Byrne-Jones 1
Disposals: Pittard 32, Wines 25, R Gray 24
Portadelaidefc.com.au's best: Pittard, R Gray, Hombsch
Injuries: None
Crowd: 10,028 at Manuka Oval, Canberra


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