PORT Adelaide has bowed out of the 2015 SANFL Finals series in heartbreaking fashion against Central District.
The Magpies lost by five points after cutting an almost six-goal deficit to just 11 points midway through the final quarter.
But a poor first half had the Magpies on the back foot and left its charge too late despite having the upper hand in the second half.
MVP: Vote for the last time this year
With Port struggled to gain clean possession early and couldn't move the ball past half way in the first quarter, only managing four goals to half time.
Each time the Magpies threatened to close the lead, the Bulldogs had all the answers.
It was the Central midfielders' composure in attack which proved the difference in the first half; their pinpoint supply too much for the black and white's defenders to handle.
Tom Clurey fought hard as the Magpies' key backman recording five defensive rebounds and 17 disposals by the end of the day.
Luke Habel was damaging for the Dogs down back, while Port Adelaide had no answers for draft prospect Wayne Milera - a member of Port's Aboriginal AFL Academy - and Potter up forward, who finished with three and two goals respectively.
Down 29 points at the main break, the Magpies fought back hard in the third quarter through some hard running by Steve Summerton, Louis Sharrad and Kane Mitchell in the middle.
Despite this, the Magpies were still coughing up the ball, and were only kept in the game by Central's inaccuracy in attack.
Central kicked 0.7 compared to the Magpies' 3.0 in the third, to hold a three-goal buffer at the final break.
Both sides went almost goal-for-goal late in the final term and the Magpies got within two straight goals on more than one occasion.
A goal to Biemans with one minute left on the clock gave Port Adelaide some hope, and Billy Frampton was unlucky to not be given a free kick for being held in the dying moments, as time ultimately won out.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 2.0 4.1 7.1 11.3 (69)
CENTRAL DISTRICT 5.3 8.6 8.13 10.14 (74)
GOALS
Butcher 3, Frampton 2, Sharrad, Summerton, Palmer, Moore, Redden, Biemans
PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU’S BEST
Butcher, Sharrad, Clurey, Summerton, Mitchell
INJURIES
Stewart and Harvy (injured) replaced in selected side by Frampton and Hollingworth-Hughes
