THE in-form Port Adelaide faces Woodville-West Torrens at Alberton Oval on Sunday, with a win cementing the Magpies a place in the 2019 SANFL finals series.
The fourth-placed Port are three wins and percentage ahead of the sixth and seventh-placed South Adelaide and the Eagles respectively, with three matches remaining in the home-and-away season.
Glenelg sit on top of the ladder, five points ahead of Adelaide, and six points ahead of Sturt and Port in what is set to be a thrilling run home.
Magpies coach Matthew Lokan believes his side is in good form, but says it was important to take every week as it comes on the run into finals.
“We are in good form, 5-1 over the last six games. We have got three to go then hopefully running into finals,” Lokan said.
“We are really happy with how the boys are going because they play with real passion.
“It is certainly important, as an SANFL group we want to play finals footy, we have built ourselves up to play finals all year and we need to keep winning to achieve that. It’s certainly not done and we play three really good sides (Eagles, Sturt and Central District) in the last three weeks.
“It is important that we keep playing the way we have been playing, developing as a group and hopefully win some games in the back part of the year.”
This week’s opponents, the Eagles, will provide a tough challenge and after a slow start to the season (2-5 after Round 7) have made a resurgence to currently sit with a 7-8 win/loss ratio.
Eagles forwards James Rowe (30 goals) and Jack Hayes (21) have had impressive seasons and will test Port’s young defenders, while midfielder Jordan Foote has been in stunning form, particularly over the past month.
Foote has averaged 26 and five clearances in his last four outings and has been a huge reason behind his side’s resurgence.
Port’s young defence has stood up this season, but its strength has come through the midfield and the forward line, with consistent efforts over the past six games from Boyd Woodcock, Joe Atley, Willem Drew, Sam Mayes, Joel Garner and Sam Hayes since returning from a knee reconstruction.
The Magpies enjoyed the split round bye last weekend after defeating South Adelaide by 28 points in Round 15 with Atley (27 disposals, 11 clearances), Trent McKenzie (26 disposals, 10 marks), Drew (26 disposals) and Steven Motlop (four goals) starring.
Port played the Eagles in Round 5 earlier this year, in a match which ended favourably for the Magpies who claimed a 37-point win at Woodville Oval. Billy Frampton was dominant that day with five goals, 15 disposals and eight marks.
The Magpies host Woodville-West Torrens at Alberton Oval on Sunday in Round 16 SANFL action, with the first bounce hitting the turf at 1.10pm.
