AFTER a long and hot preseason, skies were dark and gloomy over City Mazda stadium to kick off Port Adelaide’s 2019 SANFL campaign against West Adelaide.
Nine players made their Magpies debut including Hamish Hartlett on the return from a knee injury and new captain Cameron Sutcliffe, but it was Jack Trengove with 44 disposals, 11 tackles and a goal who led the charge in the 31-point win.
A scrappy opening term saw the ball parked in Port’s forward line, but the opening 12 minutes remained goalless until West’s Ken Karpany found space to kick truly and get the major scoring underway.
This sparked the game to open up as Gibson Turner snapped the Bloods’ second major four minutes later, before a free kick gifted Tobin Cox’s first goal in Magpies colours to get Port on the board at the 19-minute mark.
Jack Trengove gathered 12 disposals in the opening quarter as Port trailed by six points at the first break.
Both sides defended the middle of the ground well which forced a scrappy contest between the 50 marks.
Karpany kicked his second for West at the four minute mark before Port replied instantly through an Aidyn Johnson set shot.
A heavy wind made goal kicking tricky but after dominating the second half of the quarter and peppering the goalface Port hit the lead late just before half time through Boyd Woodcock’s goal and extended the margin to seven points just seconds later as Sam Gray crumbed and goaled.
Port’s running game got going and had 43 more handballs at half time (97 – 54).
After an early major to Magpies debutant Dallas Hill, West enjoyed a 10-minute purple patch, kicking three quick goals through Gibson Turner (2) and Jade Cleeland which reduced the margin to two points at the final break.
Karpany kicked his third two minutes into the final term to give the Bloods the lead, before Cox’s strong tackle and goal wrestled Port back in front seven minutes later.
Three goals in two minutes quickly extended Port’s lead to 24 points as Trengove and Gray began to run rampant.
Gray kicked his third and fourth goals in the final minutes lift the final margin to 31 points in a solid Round 1 victory.
SCOREBOARD
Port Adelaide 1.2 4.9 5.13 11.19 (85)
West Adelaide 2.2 3.3 6.5 8.6 (54)
Goals: Gray 4, Cox 2, Hill, Johnson, Lahams, Trengove, Woodcock
Best: Trengove, Gray, Atley, Johnson, Broadbent, Woodcock
