IT was cold at Alberton on Saturday afternoon, but there was plenty of heat at the local footy ground as Port Adelaide won a firey contest with Central District.
It was an important win too, with the Magpies' 17-point victory putting them two games clear of the Dogs.
The fall of other results on the day now has Port sitting fourth on the ladder - one game clear of South, and a win behind Norwood.
On Saturday, Port Adelaide was led valiantly over the ground by skipper Steve Summerton, who finished with 22 disposals, six clearances, six inside-50s and three marks, while Mitch Harvey and Robbie Young starred up forward kicking three goals apiece.
The victory did not come without a fight in slippery conditions and Port Adelaide was forced to fend off a Central challenge in the third term and again midway through the final quarter.
Another defeat following last week’s uninspiring 27-point loss to Sturt would have put Port Adelaide’s season on the edge – just half-a-game clear of the Bulldogs – facing a tough road to September with the competition so close.
Despite fielding one of its least experienced sides, the Magpies came out with a bang.
Dogged by slow starts the previous two weeks, Port Adelaide made amends with dashing speed out of the middle for Robbie Young, Harvey and Biemans to slot three early goals.
The conditions made it hard for the Magpies to keep its run going through the middle and ball-handing mistakes allowed the Bulldogs some space to kick two quick goals and narrow the margin to five points at quarter time.
Icy conditions, heated play
The recent rivalry of close games between the old foes and the difficult conditions made for a physical match, and Central tried to rattle the Magpies side with their bigger bodies after quarter time, though Port had the edge in the second term through Karl Amon, Ben Sawford and Louis Sharrad's hard attack on the football.
A second goal to Sharrad and Harvey's third extended the lead to 23 points, but a late goal to Edmead gave Central some confidence heading into the main break.
Textbook wet-weather footy
The teams went goal-for-goal in the third, but Port Adelaide's defence was able to withstand Central's momentum, with Tom Logan and Sid Masters playing particularly well.
Robbie Young booted two more goals in the third to give his side a nine-point advantage at the final break.
Garry Hocking threw his players back to defend Central’s attacking 50 in the final term.
While was allowed to win out at stoppages, Port was able to bring the ball to ground in defence and clear with precise passing, eventually taking out a 17-point win.
Jarrad Redden and Billy Frampton proved to be a dominant ruck combination for the Magpies, racking up 30 and 32 hit-outs respectively.
The win was however soured by a hamstring injury to Robbie Young.
The extent of the injury will be assessed next week.
Port Adelaide will play its 'catch-up' game against North Adelaide on Saturday 1 August at Prospect Oval at 2:10pm.
LEAGUE SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 3.1 8.2 11.3 12.7 (79)
CENTRAL DISTRICT 2.2 5.3 9.6 9.8 (62)
PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU’S BEST
Summerton, Amon, Logan, Maters, R. Young
GOALS
Harvey, Young 3, Sharrad, Biemans 2, Howard, Redden
INJURIES
R. Young (hamstring)
CROWD
1,536 at Alberton Oval
ACADEMY REPORT
Earlier in the day, Port Adelaide's Academy side notched up its eighth win of the season by accounting for Central District's reserves by 32 points.
After a sluggish three quarters of wet-weather football, the Magpies held the Bulldogs to just two points in the final quarter, while kicking 3.3 to set up the win.
Central managed to get its nose in front midway through the third term, but late goals to 19-year-old James Deeley-Godfrey and 20-year-old Tom Phelps put the home side 13 points in front at the final change.
Matthew Williams was instrumental in the win, finishing with 25 disposals, eight clearances, seven inside 50s, two rebounds inside defensive 50 and two marks.
Deeley-Godfrey stood tall up-forward, booting four goals, while Phelps and Williams also kicked two apiece.
The win puts Port Adelaide a game and percentage ahead of sixth-placed Glenelg and further strengthens the young side's push for a finals berth.
The winner of next week’s game between the Magpies and Roosters will take fourth place
Both clubs have played 14 games, behind third-ranked Sturt on 15 games, and the Eagles and Redlegs, which have played 16.
Despite five changes to the side this week, Academy coach Mark Clayton says a top-two finish is within reach.
He was impressed with the player's ability to adapt to game conditions and forced changes.
"We are just going to keep chipping away and hopefully we have another strong performance next week," Clayton said.
"We had five changes and the guys that come in just continue to play a role and even though we are changing the side up a bit, players are still managing to come in and do well.
"North are sitting just above us, but if we beat them, we will jump them and then hopefully we can eye off a top-two finish."
ACADEMY SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 2.4 3.5 6.6 9.9 (63) def.
CENTRAL DISTRICT 2.2 2.3 4.5 4.7 (31)
PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU’S BEST
M. Williams, Haarsma, Deeley-Godfrey, Corcoran, Davidson
GOAL
Deeley-Godfrey 4, Phelps, Williams, 2, Haarsma
