Port Adelaide put together back to back SANFL wins for the first time this season when it defeated Central District by 34 points at Alberton Oval on Saturday afternoon.
It was the consistency across the playing group, as well as the consistency to back up two good performances in a row that pleased Magpies coach Matthew Lokan, whose men have now registered four wins from their first six matches in 2019.
“It’s two in a row now and it was a pretty tough contest,” he said.
“I was pretty proud of the boys to be able to withstand what Centrals threw at us and come away with a really good win.
“We have got some boys who are in some really consistent form at the moment and that is what we have been looking for, for a number of weeks now.
“At the start of the season we went win-loss-win-loss and to be able to have two wins in a row and playing some consistent footy is good for the team.”
Port ruckman Pete Ladhams put together a 40-hitout, two -oal, 28-disposal, best on ground performance and was a massive factor in why the Magpies were able to dominate clearance and inside 50 statistics.
“We came into the game with a contested ball focus and we ended up winning clearances 52 to 31,” he said.
“Ladhams’ game was outstanding, for a big guy to have 40 hitouts, 10 clearances and 14 ground balls is a huge effort and that was the secret to the game today - to win those contests and the contested ball battle.”
Leading into the bye, the Magpies have scored over 94 points, four weeks in a row and have turned into one of the highest scoring sides in the competition.
“Billy Frampton (who has kicked nine goals in the last two weeks) missed two weeks (earlier in the season), but it helps to have a big target down there,” he said.
“Whether that’s Frampton, Ladhams, Tobin Cox, whoever it is up forward we expect a contest and we have been good in that area over the last couple of weeks.”