A PERFECT afternoon for football set the scene at Alberton Oval for the SANFL clash between Port Adelaide and West Adelaide, and it kept getting better and better for the Magpies as the game progressed.

Led by the tall timbers Billy Frampton (four goals, 25 disposals and nine marks), Sam Hayes (two goals), Peter Ladhams, Paddy Ryder and Todd Marshall, Port dominated the Bloods from the first siren to the last to keep them scoreless in two quarters and win by 77 points. Port’s emerging forward and ruckman started the match in style with Frampton booting the first goal at the three-minute mark before Hayes kicked the second a minute later.

The Magpies were dominating the possession, inside 50 and clearance stats early and Willem Drew, Peter Ladhams, Trent McKenzie and Billy Frampton each had five disposals in the first 12 minutes as Port ran all over Westies.

Tobin Cox continued the Magpies impressive start, kicking his first for the day and Port’s third goal at the 12-minute mark to take Port’s lead out to 21 points with a classy finish from 25m.

It was danger signs for West when Port got its overlap run and handball game going, constantly setting up attacking plays from defensive 50 with livewire Marty Frederick going coast to coast to curl home one of the goals of the SANFL season.

The Magpies led by 28 points at the quarter time break, holding West scoreless in the opening term, with Frampton gathering 10 disposals in a near perfect quarter for the big man.

Port controlled the middle of the ground during the second term, cutting the opposition apart with quick ball movement and no fear to use the corridor.

Ryder found himself on the end of a fast play and booted the Magpies first goal of the second term before Port had seven goals in a row when Boyd Woodcock converted and Frampton kicked his second less than a minute later.

Ten minutes into the second quarter Port had 47 points to its name when West Adelaide broke through the defence for its first score of the day, a goal to Kaine Stevens.

The Bloods began to get some ball going their way, but squandered two simple opportunities at goal before Jack Evans kicked the Bloods second goal from the grandstand pocket.

West had suddenly found some life and turned the possession stats around to lead disposals 199-187 at half time, thanks to Chris Schmidt (19 first half disposals), Murray White and Logan Hill finding plenty of the ball.

The game evened up and became a tough contest, before Port secured late goals to Sam Hayes and Kane Farrell with a classy gather and goal with the final kick of the first half.

Tempers boiled over at half time as both sides flew their flags in a good old fashioned melee breaking out in the middle of the ground, but the scoreboard read nicely for the Magpies who held a 47-point lead at the halfway point.

West started the third quarter in a similar fashion to the second term, scrapping the ball forward and not allowing Port time and space to use the ball.

The Bloods were first on the board with a dribbling goal to Errin Wasley-Black, their third for the match, but this would be their last major score in a tough afternoon.

The Magpies managed to get the play back on their own terms and Trent McKenzie made the most of a 25m penalty to goal and give his team a 48-point lead.

Aidyn Johnson kicked a goal late in the third term, and another in the opening two minutes of the last quarter to stretch Port’s lead out to 63 points.

Frampton was sensational throughout the day and again threw his weight around in the last quarter, taking several marks and booting his third and fourth goals to conclude the match.

Matt Broadbent was fantastic in his return match, gathering 25 disposals across half back, while Cam Sutcliffe played an important shut down role on the damaging Tom Keough.

Port Adelaide now sit third on the ladder and will be hoping to make it five wins in a row next week against Adelaide in Port Pirie.

SCOREBOARD:
Port Adelaide: 4.4, 9.8, 11.13, 14.15 (99)
West Adelaide: 0.0, 2.3, 3.4, 3.4 (22)

BEST: Frampton, Farrell, Sutcliffe, Mayes, Frederick, Ladhams

DISPOSALS: Mayes 27, Broadbent 25, Frampton 25, McKenzie 25

GOALS: Frampton 4, Hayes 2, Johnson 2, Cox, Farrell, Frederick, McKenzie, Ryder, Woodcock