PORT ADELAIDE has finished the season with a solid 43-point victory over Fremantle at Adelaide Oval on Sunday afternoon.
The Dockers had the best of the opening term, before a seven-goal unanswered stretch in the second and third quarters set up the win for Port.
The Power started strongly, opening the scoring through a set shot from Todd Marshall, before Fremantle kicked the next two majors.
Riley Bonner handed the home side back the early lead with a classic side-step and finish from long-range, but the Dockers kicked three of the next four goals to hand the visitors a nine-point lead at the first break.
Ed Langdon was busy for Fremantle with two majors and 10 touches in the opening quarter, while Justin Westhoff had eight disposals and a goal for Port.
The Power started to get on top in all facets of the game in the second term, with Xavier Duursma getting the home side off to the perfect start with a nice finish from a tight angle.
Dan Houston was the next man to hit the scoreboard after his strong tackle was rewarded, finishing from outside 50 near the boundary line.
Charlie Dixon then took a strong contested mark and finished calmly, before Connor Rozee kicked his first major of the afternoon.
Ken Hinkley’s men had kicked four goals to none from 15 inside 50s to open up a half-time lead of 15 points.
The home side continued to dominate territory in the third term, with Fremantle managing one inside 50 and one goal for the quarter.
Port added four more majors in the quarter - a stretch of seven unanswered goals - to extend the margin to 41 points.
Dixon, Marshall and Westhoff each kicked their second goals, while Rockliff booted his first for the game. Ollie Wines, Darcy Byrne-Jones, Scott Lycett and Duursma continued to rack up plenty of the football for Port.
Both teams kicked four goals in an entertaining last quarter, with Michael Walters booting two for the visitors.
Dixon took another strong contested mark to kick his third major, with Rozee and Duursma adding a second each, while Travis Boak also hit the scoreboard.
Co-captain Wines finished with 33 touches, while Byrne-Jones (29), Boak (23) and Karl Amon (23) were all influential for the home side.
Willem Drew was also very good in his return to the senior side, finishing with 22 touches and eight tackles, while Lycett’s return was also productive - 22 disposals and 22 hit-outs.
The victory over the Dockers saw the Power jump cross-town rivals Adelaide into 10th spot, but it wasn’t enough to return to September action.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 3.4 7.9 11.17 15.20 (110)
FREMANTLE 5.1 5.6 6.6 10.7 (67)
DISPOSALS
Wines 33, Byrne-Jones 29, Boak, Amon, Westhoff 23, Drew, Lycett 22
GOALS
Dixon 3, Rozee, Marshall, Duursma, Westhoff 2, Boak, Bonner, Rockliff, Houston
BEST
Wines, Duursma, Westhoff, Dixon, Rozee, Byrne-Jones
