PORT ADELAIDE has ended its SANFL season preparation with a fierce 56-point win over Sturt at Alberton.
The game was hotly contested from the first bounce, with both the Magpies and the Double Blues showing a lot of energy throughout the midfield.
And although the Double Blues were more effective at stoppages, it was the Magpies who were stronger pushing the ball forward.
As against North a fortnight ago, the Magpies early hand passes were risky, but weren’t as costly this time - Will Snelling tried out some new moves handballing the ball through his opponents’ legs.
The Double Blues were the first to hit the score board in the second term, but their reign was short-lived, with the Magpies hitting back hard with goals from Reynolds and Snelling pushing the margin to 21 points at the main break.
Snelling and Reynolds increased the Magpies domination of the score board in the third quarter, aided by an impressive Peter Ladhams and strong defensive pressure from Jarrod Lienert.
The tension was high in the final quarter but by now the Magpies had the play firmly under their control.
The final quarter produced and onslaught of goals from the Magpies, including Monfries and Toumpas who kicked stellar goals each from the top of the 50-metre line.
More came from Robert Young, Jake Neade and Brendon Ah Chee with the ball now remaining almost permanently in the Magpies attacking half.
The Double Blues only managed to push the ball into their forward 50 twice - both times successfully slotting it through for a goal despite the huge tackling pressure.
But by this time the Magpies have extended their lead to an unreachable 56 points.
Port Adelaide’s first SANFL League game for the season will be against Glenelg at Gliderol Stadium on Friday 7 March at 7.10pm.
SCOREBOARD
Port Adelaide 4.3 8.6 10.8 16.9 (105)
Sturt 2.2 5.3 6.6 7.7 (49)
Goals
Ladhams, Impey, Reynolds, White 2, Ah Chee, Frampton, Neade, Young, Palmer, Snelling, Toumpas, Monfries
PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU'S best
Ladhams, Snelling, Drew, Bonner, Reynolds, Ah Chee, Impey
Injuries
nil
