PORT ADELAIDE celebrated its 1000th game at Alberton Oval in style with a tough 20-point win against West Adelaide today.

While the win was the team’s first for the season, it was also the first victory for coach Hamish Hartlett.

Hartlett was happy with the win, which came against a team coached by his brother.

“Very, very happy to get the monkey off the back,” he said.

“It feels like there’s been a lot of hard work going into the group, and to get a little bit of reward at the back end of it is very pleasing, not for myself but for the other coaching staff as well.”

Hartlett praised Jeremy Finlayson (24 disposals, one goal, seven marks), who spent some time in the midfield as well as up forward.

“He was arguably the difference in the game,” he said.

Hartlett was also pleased with the performance of Tom Scully (four goals, four marks), calling it Scully’s “best and most impactful game for the year so far.”

“Tommy has had a lot of feedback the last couple of weeks just in his ability to compete a little bit harder at SANFL level, and we thought he brought that today,” he said.

“He’s put in a power of work at training the last couple of weeks, to his credit, doing a lot of extras, doing a lot of repeat effort stuff just to get his contest to a position that is acceptable.

“We know he’s always a good finisher, so when he gets his opportunities he’s going to make the most of them, so it’s really, really pleasing to see him playing well today.”

The Magpies started the game strongly, kicking with the breeze to score five unanswered goals before West Adelaide could respond.

It was all one-way traffic in the second quarter as West Adelaide took advantage of the wind to kick the only three goals of the term and reduce the margin to seven points at the main break.

Port Adelaide kicked to the scoring end once again during the third term and Scully made it count, converting his second goal of the afternoon early in the quarter.

The Bloods had chances to peg the margin back but could not convert accurately, while the Magpies made the most of their opportunities to extend their lead at three quarter time to 22 points.

The final quarter began tensely, with West Adelaide kicking the first two goals and threatening to take the lead.

Four unanswered Magpies goals midway through the term proved decisive in the end with Port Adelaide running out victors by 20 points.

In his return to SANFL level Charlie Dixon (two goals, nine disposals, nine hitouts) stood up with a crucial goal midway through the final term.

Hartlett commended Dixon’s effort, saying he “competed really well.”

“[Dixon] felt physically really good out there and he’s pulled up well, and he will continue to build his form from there,” he said.

Port Adelaide will play Norwood next Sunday at 2:10pm at Coopers Stadium.

Scoreboard

Port Adelaide 6.3 6.3 10.5 15.7 (97)

West Adelaide 1.3 4.8 5.13 10.17 (77)

Best: Finlayson, Sweet, Short, Jones

Goals: Scully 4, H. Ferrari 3, Dixon 2, Chamberlain, L. Evans, Finlayson, Jackson, O'Brien, Sweet