After an even first quarter, Port Adelaide started their season with a 66-point loss to Glenelg, following a second-quarter blitz from the Tigers.
Despite leading at quarter time, Port Adelaide opened their 2024 SANFL season with a loss to the reigning premiers after seven goals to two in the second quarter, which ultimately proved the difference.
The second half was more of the same story, with Glenelg piling on another six goals in the third and fourth quarters to put the game beyond doubt. Although Port Adelaide continued to challenge, scoring seven goals in the second half, it wasn’t to be as Glenelg ran away with the victory.
Coach Hamish Hartlett was disappointed with the number of consecutive goals scored late in the quarters, stating “[Glenelg] just started working harder than us from contest to contest… we broke down defensively there.”
Hartlett was also frustrated with the Magpies’ inability to capitalise once in the forward half, with only 19 scoring shots from 56 inside 50s, but is bullish that “we’ll certainly get better as the season goes on” and the squad plays more football together.
In his club SANFL debut, Jordon Sweet dominated the ruck battle with 46 hitouts and a goal, however the Magpies also couldn’t capitalise on his impressive performance and lost the clearance count 35-42.
Mitch Georgiades enjoyed his return to league football, playing out the full game and ending with three goals and seven marks in a performance praised by Hartlett. New draftees Lachie Charleson, Tom Anastasopoulos, and Will Lorenz all started their careers at Port Adelaide nicely with a goal each in the third quarter, however it wasn’t enough to turn the tide against a rampant Glenelg outfit.
Among the coaches’ best were new Port Adelaide captain Nick Moore (18 disposals and a goal) and promising halfback Josh Sinn (21 disposals), with Hartlett proud of Moore’s effort.
“We know [Moore]’s going to win a lot of contested footy… and week after week he’s going to turn up and provide his absolute best,” Hartlett said.
Port Adelaide will now pause for the league-wide bye next weekend and then make the trip to the Riverland to play West Adelaide in the Russell Ebert Tribute Match on Sunday April 14th at 2:30pm.
SCOREBOARD
Port Adelaide: 4.4 6.4 10.5 13.6 (84)
Glenelg: 4.3 11.5 17.8 23.12 (150)
Goals: Georgiades 3, Anastasopoulos, Scully 2, Charleson, Lorenz, Moore, Narkle, Sweet, Szust
Best: Moore, Georgiades, Sinn, Byrne, Anastasopoulos
