WITH a powering start on a 27-degree day, Port Adelaide's Academy was looking a chance to upset the Eagles reserves for their first loss of the year.
But that all changed after half time as Woodville-West Torrens reeled the Magpies in to take an emphatic 40-point victory.
SELECTION: Three changes for league final
The Eagles' 77-point turnaround came on the back of superior fitness, experience and pinpoint goal kicking, particularly late in the game.
While both sides were neck-and-neck at the start of the term, the Eagles barely missed a shot as they comprehensively outplayed Port in attack and out of stoppages.
Matt Raymond booted four final term goals to play chief destroyer for the minor premiers.
It looked so different early, with a ferocious Port kicking seven goals with a three-goal breeze in the first term.
Will Northeast was lively and kicked three fast goals, while Sam Gordon added two more.
When Ben Sawford and Brad Coulson kicked their own singles, the Magpies had opened up a sizeable lead, with its dominance manufactured from its superior stoppage work.
It was a knee injury to Adam Mahney - son of former Port premiership player Wayne - in the second term that seemed to turn the game.
SUNDAY: Magpies v Central details
Port had held its lead to boot one goal to the Eagles' three and nurse a 24-point lead at the main break.
But then the surge from the minor premiers came, and their dominance by kicking the first four goals of the quarter to take the lead back late in the term.
Tom Gray kicked Port's first for the half with his only possession for the term after 25 minutes to give the Magpies the lead back.
Port Adelaide held the lead early in the term, but seven unanswered goals proved the difference for the premiership favourite Woodville-West Torrens.
Port was forced to dead with two players on its bench in the second half after Mahney went down, and the Eagles superior fitness was evident late in the game.
Ben Sawford (20 disposals) and Tom Gray (18) were the most prolific with the ball, although Gray's impact was severely down after half time.
Levi Proude and Jack Haarsma had 17 touches.
Academy coach Mark Clayton said despite the loss, the positive signs of the opening term should bode well for next week's preliminary final against North, especially after the Roosters' narrow win over Glenelg.
"It was a really good first quarter but we needed to maintain pressure and intensity all game," Clayton told portadelaidefc.com.au.
"There was a bit of compliance that we can improve on, it was a good learning experience against the competition's best side."
Port Adelaide and North Adelaide's reserves will play off for a spot in the grand final against Woodville-West Torrens next weekend at 11:25am on Saturday 19 September at Richmond Oval.
BUDDHA: Magpie mentor calls for big crowd
Reserves Scoreboard
Woodville-West Torrens reserves 1.1 4.3 8.6 15.9 (99)
Port Adelaide Academy 7.2 8.3 9.5 9.5 (59)
Best
Proude, Corcoran, Haarsma, T. Gray, Sawford, Hawkins
Goals
Northeast 3, Gordon, Coulson 2, T. Gray, Sawford
