It was first versus third when Glenelg travelled to Alberton on Sunday to face an in form Port Adelaide side looking to claim its sixth consecutive victory, but the top of the table Tigers proved too strong in a 24-point win.
Under a cloudless sky it was a perfect day for football, however the half time scoreline of 5.5 to 04 suggested just the opposite as the Magpies were simply outplayed and failed to find the big sticks.
It was an arm wrestle to start the contest with neither side able to break through with a goal in the opening 10 minutes.
Darcy Bailey eventually broke the deadlock and produced Glenelg’s first goal as the Tigers locked the ball in their forward half to create repeated forward 50 entries.
Port’s defenders did a fantastic job cutting off Glenelg’s attacks with intercept marks on the last line of defence, but struggled to move the ball past the halfway mark.
Young defenders Kai Pudney (14 disposals in the first term) and Marty Frederick (nine disposals), along with Trent McKenzie (14 disposals, seven marks) had massive quarters but Glenelg found late goals to Luke Partington and Marlon Motlop to lead by 19 points at quarter time.
The scoring rate didn’t improve during the second term as neither side managed a goal until the 23-minute mark of the quarter.
The ball was again parked in the Tigers attacking zone, who managed 27 forward 50 entries in the opening half, but McKenzie and Pudney continued their intercept marking and rebounding game to limit dangerous forwards Partington, Liam McBean and Marlon Motlop.
Eventually the ball found its way to Glenelg’s Tom Schutt who managed to convert a goal from 35m out directly in front, before McBean found his first goal with a free kick after the half time siren.
Port were held goalless for the first half but led the Tigers in disposals, marks and hitouts.
Trailing by 31 points at the major break, the Magpies were released from the rooms with a greater enthusiasm and managed to urge the ball forward and lock it in their attacking half.
Ruckman Sam Hayes found some space inside 50 and marked to give Port its first goal of the afternoon, four minutes into the third quarter but Partington replied for the Tigers straight away.
Hayes’ partners in crime, Paddy Ryder and Peter Ladhams had shots on goal from contested marks, with Ladhams converting his opportunity to give Port its second major.
Glenelg turned the tables once again and managed to control the remainder of the quarter to register its most successful term (four goals) to lead by 42 points at the final break.
Ladhams gave Port fans something to cheer about when he kicked a goal from the scoreboard pocket in the opening minutes of the final term, but the Tigers again had the answer with back to back goals in reply.
The Magpies were far more competitive in the second half, booting eight-goals-to-seven – including six in the last quarter.
Five of their goals came from ruckmen Ryder, Hayes and Ladhams, while small forward Boyd Woodcock slotted two last quarter goals.
Former Tiger Ben Edwards did a good job on the League’s leading goal kicker McBean, who kicked just one goal for the afternoon, but Partington gave the Magpies some headaches with four goals in a dominant performance.
Willem Drew collected 30 disposals and Pudney had 29 in a tough day for the Magpies, losing 12.9-81 to 8.9-57.
SCORE:
Port Adelaide: 0.1, 0.4, 2.6, 8.9 (57)
Glenelg: 3.2, 5.5, 9.6, 12.9 (81)
DISPOSALS: Drew 30, Pudney 29, McKenzie 27, Hewett 24.
GOALS: Ladhams 2, Hayes 2, Woodcock 2, McKenzie, Ryder.
BEST: Ryder, Frederick, Drew, Hewett.
