PORT ADELAIDE came from behind to win a classic encounter by three points against a spirited Glenelg at Gliderol Stadium on Friday night.
A see-sawing contest from start to finish, saw neither side being able to gain full momentum of the game.
It was a frustrating first half for the Magpies, who had 54 per cent of the possession but couldn’t take advantage of that moving the ball inside 50.
Skipper Steven Summerton racked up 10 touches in the opening half, along with Trent McKenzie, Jarrod Lienert, Levi
But it was Glenelg who were slick with their ball movement, kicking four goals in each of the quarters in the first half.
Jake Neade, Sam Hayes, Karl Amon and Billy Frampton all kicked goals, but it was Peter Ladhams who lead the way in
He kicked two important goals to have the visitors trailing by 13 points at the main break.
Glenelg kicked the first of the third term to give them a 19-point advantage, but it was all the Magpies in the next 10 minutes – kicking three unanswered goals to wrestle back the lead.
Sam Hayes kicked his second and Jack Trengove hit the scoreboard for the first time on the night, as the Magpies led the contest by a point.
Kane Farrell was very busy in the forward half, and when he kicked his second Port were up by 13 points midway through the last quarter.
Jarrod Lienert and Joel Garner continued to win the footy across
A run of goals from the Tigers saw them hit the front with minutes left on the clock, but a Jake Neade beauty from the pocket sealed a hard-fought victory for the Magpies.
Scoreboard
PORT ADELAIDE 3.2 6.3 11.5 14.8 (92)
GLENELG 4.4 8.4 10.4 14.5 (89)
Goals
PORT ADELAIDE
Ladhams, Neade 3, Farrell, Hayes, Trengove 2, Amon, Frampton
GLENELG
Milera 7, Motlop 3, Sawford 2, Koster, Reynolds
Best
Lienert, Neade, Ladhams, Amon, Snelling, Garner, Atley