PORT ADELAIDE will play West Adelaide in the SANFL Qualifying Final next Sunday with plenty of confidence after accounting for the Bloods by 37-points - the same margin it defeated the Suns by in the AFL last night - at Alberton.
The Magpies used a big third term to put the Bloods away, having been just four points ahead at the main break.
The win was the Magpies' 13th for the season, sealing them second spot on the SANFL ladder.
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The match was a close encounter for the first half, with the lead changing hands several times, and scores were level on three occasions in the second quarter.
Despite missing first-choice players Adam Hartlett and Aaron Fielke, the Bloods fought hard to edge in front of Port during the second term.
Second majors to Steven Summerton and Luke Reynolds gave the Magpies a four-point buffer at the main break.
Summerton continued to lead from the front and sparked Port Adelaide into action in the third term, adding another goal to his name as well as being instrumental at stoppages.
But it was the five-goal-to-one third quarter that put the result beyond doubt for the Magpies.
In perfect conditions, Port Adelaide quelled the poor starts which had characterised much of its seasson, instead booting three unanswered goals to hold a 13-point lead at the first break.
The Bloods swung the tide early in the second, with the match being played with a finals-like intensity.
West booted the first two goals and then a behind to square up the scoresheet at 27 points apiece.
The visitors were more composed going forward and Port Adelaide couldn't win much of the ball at the stoppages nor move the ball out of its defensive 50.
The game was set up to be a hard slog between two sides eager to finish the season strong, but the Bloods failed to punish the Magpies up forward - kicking 3.5 - and the Magpies to capitalised to take a slim lead into the main break.
A big second half
A third quarter onslaught led by Kane Mitchell and Andrew Moore's brilliant stoppage work ultimately got the job done.
Mitchell ended the game with 36 possessions, 11 clearances, seven inside 50s and two defensive rebounds.
Moore was not far behind with 27 disposals, four clearances, six inside 50s and a goal.
West Adelaide remained competitive in the final term, but the damage had been done.
Port Adelaide's skipper's fifth goal at the seven-minute mark of the final quarter extended the lead to 40 points and sealed the win.
Summerton may have led the charge up forward, but Port Adelaide had nine other individual goal scorers including Shaw who booted three and Reynolds, with two.
Port Adelaide plays West Adelaide at 3:10pm next Sunday at the Adelaide Oval - the day after the club's final AFL game of the year against Fremantle.
It will also play North Adelaide in the SANFL Reserves Qualifying Final.
LEAGUE SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 4.2 6.4 11.6 17.6 (108)
WEST ADELAIDE 2.1 5.6 6.8 10.11 (71)
GOALS
Summerton 5, Shaw 3, Reynolds 2, Mitchell, Moore, Harvey, Russell, Stewart, Byrne-Jones, Palmer
PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU’S BEST
Summerton, Stewart, Mitchell, Moore, Colquhoun
INJURIES
Nil
ACADEMY REPORT
THE Port Adelaide Academy side has finished the minor round in second spot on the SANFL reserves ladder, after overcoming West Adelaide's reserves by 21 points.
Finishing second secured Port Adelaide a double chance in the upcoming finals series and the team will play North Adelaide next Saturday in a qualifying final.
The Magpies managed to break away from a plucky young Bloods' side in the final quarter, after being down at quarter time, then leading by less than a straight kick at each break after.
Port Adelaide kicked three goals in the final term, whilst restrictng the visitors to just a point.
Sam Gordon was solid up forward, booting four goals, while Coulson and Haarsma also enjoyed a standout performance, ending the day with 22 disposals each.
Academy coach Mark Clayton said the win was off the back of the players "sticking to structures" and "playing for each other".
He said the side was excited to be playing a final next week and believed the strong finish to the minor round would give his side confidence to play on a big stage.
"I am really proud of the players, they are the ones that do the hard work and they have cone together to get the results this year," Clayton told portadelaidefc.com.au.
"A lot of them played juniors together so they want to play for each other and they want to play for this club, so that makes a big difference.
"It was Westies' last game of the year and they would've wanted to finish strongly, and our boys were challenged.
"But to their credit, they were be able to still believe that what we were doing was right and work hard, so they got the result."
ACADEMY SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 4.3 8.5 12.8 15.10 (100)
WEST ADELAIDE 5.2 8.4 12.6 12.7 (79)
GOALS
Gordon 4, Phelps 3, Ross 2, Coulson, Cook, Deeley-Godfrey, Dixon, Miller, Northeast
PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU’S BEST
Gordon, Phelps, Coulson, Haarsma, Foster
