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PORT Adelaide has defeated Gold Coast by 48 points at Metricon Stadium, thanks to a superb third quarter.

First quarter

Sam Day kicked the first goal for the Suns from the opening clearance, before Jay Schulz and Danyle Pearce kicked two behinds in response - not an ideal start from the a Power side looking to get on the front foot early.

The Suns controlled the play from the outset of the quarter however, and were able to kick 14 points clear early in the term after Michael Rischitelli put Gold Coast’s second on the board.

With a number of early unforced errors, Port Adelaide was able to go forward and allow a forward-running Jackson Trengove - one of the Power's least likely goal kicking candidates - to put his first goal for the year on the scoreboard

Despite the Suns control of the uncontested ball, Port Adelaide was able to go forward and set up opportunities - Brad Ebert kicking the Power’s second for the quarter to close the gap to 2 points.

Port then proceeded to bring the game back into its own late in the term - going from being beaten in contested possessions to being in front minutes out from the quarter-close.

Kane Cornes won a free off Gary Ablett for a push in the back to put Port in the lead by 5 points in the dying stages, before a solid rebound from fifty for the away sidesaw Brett Ebert lock the ball in attacking fifty and set up Jay Schulz to curl his first through. 

Port Adelaide kicked the last four majors of the term, and leads by 11 points at the first change.

Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 4.4 (28) leads
Goal Coast 2.5 (17)

Stats

Disposals: Pearce, Trengove, Brad Ebert 10, Schulz, McCarthy, Boak 6
Marks: Schulz 4, Trengove 3, Pearce, Westhoff 2
Hit outs: Renouf 9, D. Stewart 2, Thomas
Tackles: Broadbent 4, Hartlett 3, Brett Ebert 2
Goals: Trengove, Brad Ebert, Cornes, Schulz

[ Video: McCarthy goals from 55m ]

Second quarter

Sam Day kicked the first goal for the quarter for the Suns again - bringing the gap back to 5 points.

The Power responded quickly - with the ball entering deep within attacking 50 to Jay Schulz juggling a top, albeit unpaid mark.

Unable to convert from the eventual spillage, the Suns again moved forward to their number three draft pick Sam Day who proceeded to kick his second.

Trailing by a point, Port Adelaide again responded through vice captain Travis Boak with a strong running goal and later Brett Ebert kicking his second for year off a strong mark.

Jay Schulz was unlucky to pull a set shot to the left but the Suns put two more on the board through McQualter - the Power by 1 point.

The Suns won the footy again from the middle to kick their third consecutive goal, this time through Horsley and reclaim the lead late in the term.

Just as he did earlier in the term, Boak put the Power back in front with the final score of the term - leading by a solitary point at the main break.

Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 7.7 (49) leads
Goal Coast 7.6 (48)

Stats

Disposals: Pearce 19, Boak, Brad Ebert 14, McCarthy 12
Marks: Trengove, Schulz 4, Pearce, Westhoff 3
Hit outs: Renouf 21, D. Stewart 3, Thomas, Westhoff
Tackles: Brad Ebert, Broadbent 5, Pearce, Trengove, Hartlett 3
Goals: Boak 2, Trengove, Brad Ebert, Brett Ebert, Cornes, Schulz

[ Video: Westhoff snaps a goal ]

Third quarter

 Gold Coast kicked the first scores of the quarter, as it had done for the previous two, but with two behinds the result could only head the Power by a minor score.

Matthew Broadbent broke back for Port Adelaide with a excellent crumbing effort off the good tall work of Jay Schulz.

The arm wrestle between the two sides continued but the Power’s transitioning skills were superior and used its best pressure of the game, possibly the year, to force turnovers.

Daniel Stewart slotted his first of the afternoon on the back of his three goal effort for North Adelaide in the SANFL last week but was soon subbed-off in favour of namesake Paul.

Port Adelaide then banged on three goals in mere minutes with Broadbent and Cornes adding to their tallies with strong goals before John McCarthy dribbled it in from 55 metres.

Brett Ebert, in just his third game back in the Power side,  played with intense, contested efforts and was rewarded with his second goal with a brilliant second effort crumbing his own long attempt.

Kicking six goals in a massive spurt akin to its late-game performance against North Melbourne, Port again converted through Danyle Pearce from a Matt Thomas free kick for the Power’s seventh in a row.

Leading by 48 points with fourteen scoring shots to two in the term, Port Adelaide’s ability to make effective use of turnovers, win clearances and force stoppages in attacking 50 has been key to its blowout.

Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 14.14 (98)
leads Goal Coast 7.8 (50)

Stats

Disposals: Pearce 25, Boak 21, Brad Ebert 19, Cornes, Hartlett, Broadbent 17
Marks: Schulz 7, Trengove, Hartlett 5
Hit outs: Renouf 31, D. Stewart 5, Westhoff 2, Broadbent, Thomas
Tackles: Brad Ebert 6, Broadbent 5, Pearce, Trengove, Hartlett 4
Goals: Boak 2, Cornes 2, Brett Ebert 2, Broadbent 2, Schulz, Pearce, Brad Ebert, Trengove, D. Stewart, McCarthy

Fourth Quarter Gary Ablett kicked the first goal of the term to bring the margin back to 42 points and was promptly followed by Alex Sexton and Campbell Brown.

Justin Westhoff was unable to kick on the run into the goals in the opening minutes but put it in from the pocket whilst Jay Schulz similarly struggled with the bread-and-butter shots - kicking 1.5 for the day. Needing a goal to lock the game away, Travis Boak snapped truly to steady Port Adelaide’s ship.

Combined with three and four man tackles, Port Adelaide ensured the game would not slip from its grasp, with Brad Ebert winning a “holding-the-ball” free thirty metres from goal to put the game beyond doubt.

This is Port Adelaide’s first streak since 2010 when Matthew Primus took over the helm of the club and its first against the Gold Coast. 

Final Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 17.16 (118)
defeated Goal Coast 10.10 (70)

Best: Broadbent, Boak, Pearce, Brad Ebert, Cornes

[ Video: The boys sing the song ]

Final Stats

Disposals: Brad Ebert 29, Pearce, Boak 28, Broadbent 25, Cornes 24
Marks: Schulz 8, Trengove, Hartlett 6, Westhoff, Broadbent, Chaplin 5
Hit outs: Renouf 42, D. Stewart 5, Westhoff 5, Broadbent, Wingard, Brett Ebert, Thomas
Tackles: Brad Ebert 7, Broadbent 6, Schulz, Trengove, Hartlett 5
Goals: Boak 3, Cornes, Broadbent Brad Ebert, Brett Ebert 2, Schulz, Pearce, McCarthy, Westhoff, Trengove, D. Stewart