PORT ADELAIDE will be hoping to make it a 38^th club premiership when it faces traditional rivals Glenelg in this Sunday’s SANFL Statewide Super League Grand Final at Adelaide Oval. 

It has been a significant premiership drought for both sides, with the Magpies’ last flag coming in 1999, while it has been 33 years since the Tigers lifted the cup in 1985.

While not finding the ultimate triumph in recent years, this will be the third time in six years Port will contest the grand final, having lost to Norwood in 2014 and Sturt in 2017 - both decided by less than a goal. 

Port has met Glenelg in grand finals on six occasions (1934, 1977, 1981, 1988, 1990, 1992) with the Magpies leading the tally 5-1. 

Glenelg was the standout team all year and finished minor premiers, defeating the Magpies on both occasions during the home-and-away season.

Port ended the minor round in second position on the ladder - with 13 wins - then beat Adelaide in the qualifying final, followed by a four-point win over the Bays in the second semi final to progress straight through to the premiership-decider.  

The Tigers then defeated a gallant Adelaide outfit in the preliminary final by 27 points to book a mouth-watering grand final match-up against the Magpies.

Both the Magpies and Tigers’ sides have match-winners, with Port’s young midfield managing to stand up all season.  

The combination of Willem Drew, Joe Atley, ruckman Peter Ladhams, Kane Farrell and Sam Mayes, coupled with the experience and class of Jack Trengove and captain Cam Sutcliffe has seen Port win the ball at the coalface and distribute it well in the attacking half. 

The forward line has functioned extremely well and ended the minor rounds as the best attacking team in the competition, averaging 93.5 points per game. 

The 22-year-old, 200cm forward Billy Frampton has led the troops with 32 goals from his 13 matches, while small forwards Tobin Cox and Boyd Woodcock have been outstanding, combining for 49 goals.  

Ladhams has also chipped in with 17 goals in what has been a break out season for the 21-year-old.   

Glenelg is not far behind in the forward department, averaging 92.1 points per game, thanks to the league’s leading goal-kickers Liam McBean and Luke Reynolds. 

McBean led the competition with 46 goals from his 18 matches, while Reynolds finished with 45. They have now combined for more than 100 goals for the year including their finals campaign. 

Josh Scott is also a dangerous prospect, kicking 14 goals from his eight matches after recovering from a horrific broken arm earlier in the season. 

It will be a big task for Magpies defenders Trent McKenzie, Joel Garner and Tom Corcoran who will have to work tirelessly to keep the dominant forwards out of the match. 

Scott was outstanding last week against the Crows, booting three goals, but Garner did a great job to keep him goalless in the previous encounter.

The midfield battle is set to be a showcase of the 2019 decider, with 2019 Magarey Medallist Luke Partington, and experienced pair Marlon Motlop and Matthew Snook set to renew hostilities with the Magpies’ young and exciting on-ballers.

It looms to be a cracking game of football to decide the 2019 SANFL premier in front of what is expected to be a massive crowd. 

The action will get underway at 3pm at the Adelaide Oval.