A DOMINANT final two periods has seen Hamish Hartlett’s Port Adelaide Magpies cruise to a 49-point victory over South Adelaide in their second and final trial match before the beginning of the 2024 SANFL season. 

Twelve AFL listed players featured in the first four periods, while a full SANFL side took the reins in the fifth to steer the game home. 

With a stiff breeze favouring one end of the ground, the Panthers took advantage of the conditions, kicking four goals to nil in the first of five periods, with the game played predominantly in their half of the ground.

The second period saw an inaccurate Magpies wrestle back control with Dante Visentini opening the side’s account, and further goals from Cody Szust, Bailey Chamberlain and Mitch Georgiades provided Port a seven-point lead going into the main break. 

“We had to bide our time and be a little bit patient before we hit the scoreboard, but we ended up creating plenty of opportunities for ourselves,” said coach Hartlett. 

“Obviously, it would have been nice to have finished off a little bit more of our work, but ultimately we had had plenty of the ball inside.”

Port Adelaide was able to continually withstand pressure from the Panthers, only conceding two goals against the breeze in the third period. Hartlett noted impressive features from both Xavier Walsh and Logan Evans, who stood strong alongside the experience of Trent McKenzie in defence.

In the final two periods, the Magpies were absolutely dominant, holding the Panthers scoreless in the fourth period and allowing only one goal in the fifth. It was a different story in Port’s half, piling on nine goals in reply. Tom Scully broke the game open with four consecutive fourth-period goals and dominated in the air in a match-turning performance.

“He's improved out of sight in the 12 months he's been at the footy club,” Hartlett said of the 203cm teenager. “He's a real presence down forward these days now that he has filled out a bit. 

“He's competing a lot more and more consistently, in the area of contests. And he's always been a lovely, lovely shot at goal.”

In the fifth period, a full SANFL-contracted side proved its mettle to ice out the game, with big forward Lachlan Pascoe (three goals) providing a reliable target and Cody Szust (two goals) a spark out of the middle.

Port Adelaide will take on Glenelg at Stratarama Stadium on Good Friday to open its 2024 SANFL season. 

SCOREBOARD

Port Adelaide    0.2         4.11       4.13       9.18       13.20     (98)

South Adelaide 4.3         4.4         6.7         6.7         7.7         (49)

Goals: Scully 4, Pascoe 3, Szust 2, Visentini, Chamberlain, Georgiades, Narkle