BEING able to find a way to win when the chips are down is what Port Adelaide’s SANFL coach Garry Hocking was most proud of after his side's victory over the Adelaide Crows at Balaklava Oval on Sunday.
The Magpies were placed under a lot of pressure early by a determined Adelaide outfit, desperate to cause an upset and get their names on the winner's list for the first time this season.
Clean possessions were hard to come by for the Magpies, who produced an error-riddled first half while missing crucial shots on goal.
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But eager to remain in the hunt with the league's top tier Port Adelaide's midfielders started winning the contests and created chances for their forwards to boot 13 second-half goals to Adelaide's seven.
The Magpies shared the goal scoring between 12 players, which Hocking was also impressed with.
"We were able to find a way forward and the third and fourth quarter is the way we like to play," Hocking said.
"Scoring 20 goals, I was really delighted with that..
"We had a mixture of forwards, mids and backs score our goals too which was really pleasing.
"I've really been at the boys to show a bit more effort, a bit more care, so I was delighted that they showed a bit more of that.
"This group has a huge amount of character, but they are still young boys, so they have to be poked a bit to get their performance up."
Hocking admitted the defensive side of the Magpies' game, although improved over the past month, still needed to be tightened.
"It was disappointing at the start," Hocking said.
"Credit to Adelaide, I thought they looked sharp and started really well and they were a team searching for a win and we knew that.
"But it was really disappointing that we gave them five goals [in the opening term] and allowing them to score 15 goals still worries me, so we have to keep working on our defensive side."
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Hocking praised the performances of Aaron Young (31 disposals, nine clearances) and Brendon Ah Chee (25 disposals, three clearances) after both returned to the Magpies after stints in the AFL.
He was also impressed new recruit Jesse Palmer's game, who is "starting to show some class".
The youngster finished with 17 disposals and three goals.
Port Adelaide has a bye next week, as the league breaks for the State game which will be played against the WAFL in Perth, on Saturday 23 May.
Port Adelaide skipper Steve Summerton, who is enjoying another consistent year, has been named in the State squad.
The final squad however will be announced on Monday and the team will travel to Perth on Friday.
Port Adelaide's round eight clash will be against Glenelg at Alberton Oval on Sunday 31 May 31 at 2.10pm.
