LOSING to the Adelaide Crows twice in one weekend does not sit well with the Port Adelaide faithful, especially with SANFL coach Chad Cornes.
Cornes was visibly disappointed after his side went down to Adelaide's SANFL team by 30 points at Mannum Oval on Sunday.
He admitted being frustrated with his side's inability to hang tough and hold onto a 15-point lead early in the final term.
But Cornes said the loss was a bit easier to swallow after the honourable tough, hard, Port Adelaide football his side produced
"I was very happy with the overall performance, the young guys who came in played their role and showed some good signs," Cornes said.
"The guys who were down last week really turned it around this week, led by Summo (Steve Summerton) and Butch (John Butcher)
"It was just disappointing, I thought when we got those two goals up in the last quarter, I was pretty confident in that position.
"But to the Crows credit, they ran out the game better and dominated around the stoppages. "
The Magpies started sluggishly and, not only allowed its cross-town rivals room to move freely through the corridor, but gifted Adelaide goals after being punished for poor execution.
Despite being four goals down, Port turned its fortunes around and stayed true to its 'never give up' mantra.
Led by Kane Mitchell and Steven Summerton, the Magpies ferociously attacked each contest and played brave football, taking the game on to get their run and carry game going.
Port moved the ball swiftly from defence to attack and, three goals to John Butcher and Luke Reynolds respectively helped the black and white to a nine-point lead into the main break.
But after Butcher's fourth for the afternoon, the fourth quarter belonged to Adelaide and its mature, AFL-listed players shone.
In contrast, Port Adelaide's skills let them down again and a failure to win the contested football at the stoppages let the Magpies down.
Although Jonathon Ross worked hard, the bigger bodies of O'Brien and Lowden were hard to match up on as Port was comprehensively beaten in the hit-outs 57-19.
In contrast to last week's accuracy in front of goals, Port's forwards were off target, booting 5.8 by half time and Cornes conceded that to be the difference.
"We just give teams too many goals from basic skill errors," Cornes said.
"Our goal kicking was just not good enough.
"When you work so hard to get the ball there and then to miss goals from 10-5m out is deflating."
The Magpies will look to bounce back next week and get its first win for 2016 when it clashes with North Adelaide at Alberton Oval on Saturday 9 April at 2.10pm
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