PORT Adelaide has continued its dominance over the Adelaide Crows in the SANFL, overcoming a sluggish start and storming home to a 35-point win at Balaklava Oval on Sunday afternoon.
The Magpies were chasing Adelaide's tails for most of the match, being unable to make the most of their opportunities up forward and failing to match the Crows in contests.
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Facing a 14-point deficit heading into the final change, Port Adelaide hit back with three quick goals deep into the third term through Harvey, Wagner and Sam Gray to take an 11-point lead at three-quarter time.
From there the Magpies piled on seven goals to Adelaide's three in the final term after its midfield dominated stoppages.
Playing in the state's mid-north in support of the Country Fire Service, it was the Crows who flew out of the blocks, owning the centre clearances and booting three early unanswered goals.
Stewart, Logan, Young and Sharrad worked hard, but the Magpies struggled to match the intensity of a Crows outfit searching for their first win of the season.
Port Adelaide was wasteful in attack, recording three more scoring shots and two more inside-50s than their cross-town rivals to find themselves two points down at half time.
A goal to Jesse Palmer in the third quarter gave Port Adelaide the lead for the first time, but it was quickly stolen again by Adelaide, who eventually pushed the margin back out to 14 points in their favour.
Some hard running from Byrne-Jones, Stewart and Ah Chee late in the third quarter created chances for the Magpies and the forwards finally found their kicking boots.
The clearances also began to swing Port Adelaide's way allowing them the 11-point buffer at three-quarter time.
Two misses early in the final term kept Adelaide in the hunt, but a goal to Neade after a free kick and a centre square clearance which helped Byrne-Jones to boot his first league goal quickly extended the Magpies' lead to 26 points.
Young and Moore also joined their peers on the scoresheet, before Logan Austin put the icing on the cake at the 27th minute mark.
The 19-year-old Austin stormed through the middle to kick not only his second goal of the match, but second in league football.
Paul Stewart continued his consistent form, providing hard run on the outside and finishing with 31 disposals, 13 marks, three tackles and a goal, while Aaron Young also finished with 31 disposals, nine clearances and a goal.
The win extended the ledger between the two sides to 3-0 in Port Adelaide's favour.
Port Adelaide will have a bye next week as the league breaks for the SANFL v WAFL state game.
The Magpies' Academy side did not have a match today, but will play South Adelaide away next Friday night.
LEAGUE SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 3.4 7.8 13.10 20.14 (134)
ADELAIDE 5.1 8.4 12.5 15.9 (99)
GOALS
Neade, Palmer 3, Austin, Gray, Wagner, Harvey 2, Byrne-Jones, Logan, Moore, Redden, Stewart, Young
PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU’S BEST
Stewart, Summerton, Ah Chee, Gray, Byrne-Jones,
INJURIES
nil
CROWD
2,034 at Balaklava Oval
