A GOAL KICKING masterclass by new recruit Lindsay Thomas has guided Port Adelaide to a 95-point thumping of Adelaide in the opening round of the SANFL season – and a first win under new coach Matthew Lokan.
Thomas, playing his first game for the Magpies since leaving for North Melbourne 12 years ago, was irresistible in the forward 50 at Alberton, finishing with six goals.
And he could have had more had he not missed another four shots.
Against the breeze in the first quarter, Port Adelaide’s attack on the ball was ferocious.
The Magpies forced the ball forward at every chance and Thomas booted the first two goals, including a nice hook around his body.
Jimmy Toumpas was forced from the field after nine minutes after being hit high by Harry Dear.
He returned to the field late in the quarter with his shoulder heavily strapped, but missed Aidyn Johnson finishing off a well worked passage of play.
Johnson was among those wasteful in front of goal early on, along with young Magpies-contracted debutant Jack Kluske.
A 21-point quarter time lead blew out to 32 points early in the second term thanks to goals to Billy Frampton and Thomas, his third of the game.
Captain Steven Summerton was finding space across the ground, and racked up 21 possessions by the main break, eventually finishing with a game-high 29.
The visitors lifted their intensity and fought back with two goals of their own, but the margin was still 24 points when the half-time siren sounded.
But that was as close as the Crows would get – a ten goals to one third quarter blowing the game open for the Magpies as they opened up a 79-point lead at the final chance.
The home side burst out of the blocks, booting three goals in three minutes.
Thomas booted three for the quarter, while Jake Neade – busy across the ground – had two.
Magpies contracted debutants Levi Proude (28 disposals and one goal) and Kluske booted their first senior goals, while AFL draftee Jake Patmore had his first goal for the club as well.
Kluske had three by the eight minute mark of the last term but the game was well and truly over, with another debutant, ruckman Sam Hayes getting his first goal, and Will Snelling capping a memorable win.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 3.5 5.10 15.11 19.14 (128)
ADELAIDE 0.3 2.4 3.4 4.9 (33)
Goals
Thomas 6, Kluske 3, Frampton, Johnson 2, Atley, Proude, Patmore, Snelling, Neade, Hayes
Best
Atley, Neade, Farrell, Proude, Thomas, Kluske, Leinert, Johnson, Summerton
Crowd
2451 at Alberton Oval
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