First Quarter
Under fine skies and warm conditions captain Dominic Cassisi won the toss and elected to kick to the southern end of AAMI Stadium.
Having emerged from a four goal loss to Essendon, Port Adelaide was keen to stamp its authority on Sydney early, and it did so through using the outside of the ground well.
Jay Schulz opened his and the Power’s account with a big major running into an open goal square.
The Power was unlucky for returning forward Robbie Gray to miss another goal opportunity, however Jacob Surjan quickly made amends with a courageous crumb-and-run effort from the centre of the ground.
Port Adelaide leading by thirteen points, Sydney was given a lucky break after a mark from a kick which seemingly fell short of the requisite fifteen metres was paid forty metres from the Swans goal end.
A rallying Sydney upped the ante with two more goals to hit the lead mid-way through the term, however Port Adelaide’s pressure around the ball created opportunity.
Paul Stewart held down the western wing like it was his own - outmuscling and running hard to set up two forward entries - one resulting in a goal to Matthew Broadbent at the sixteen-minute mark.
The Power struggled against the Swans’ high pressure defensive football, but was not without opportunity to score, with Sydney quick to punish error in front of goals.
Matthew Broadbent, Robbie Gray, Jackson Trengove, Jacob Surjan and Paul Stewart were influential in this quarter and their efforts were key to setting up Port Adelaide’s scoring.
Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 3. 3. (21)
Sydney 5. 2 (32)
Goals: Schulz, Surjan, Broadbent.
Stats Marks: Trengove 7, Broadbent, Chaplin, P. Stewart 4
Disposals: Broadbent 10, P. Stewart, Trengove 9
Tackles: Cassisi, Stewart 2
Hitouts: Redden 8, D. Stewart 3
Second Quarter
Trailing by 11 points, Port Adelaide needed to respond to Sydney’s late first term scores.
The response came in the form of a long onslaught between the two sides. Port Adelaide was steely in defence in the opening moments and its forward movement much improved.
Paul Stewart had the first opportunity when he lined up on the corner of the boundary and 50 metre arc - pushing it to the left side - but followed quickly by a goal to Justin Westhoff.
Again, Sydney punished Port Adelaide. A massive brain fade by Hamish Hartlett kicking out from defence resulted in an easy goal to the Swans, before the lack of pressure around the ball at a critical juncture on fifty gave them a second.
With the Swans opening their lead, Port Adelaide had to respond, and used the ball effectively to get some late inside 50s.
A neat passage of play late in the term allowed Brad Ebert to kick a goal from a thirty metre set shot and close the Bloods’ advantage to sixteen points at the main change.
Disposals: Broadbent 10, P. Stewart, Trengove 9
Tackles: Cassisi, Stewart 2
Hitouts: Redden 8, D. Stewart 3
Second Quarter
Trailing by 11 points, Port Adelaide needed to respond to Sydney’s late first term scores.
The response came in the form of a long onslaught between the two sides. Port Adelaide was steely in defence in the opening moments and its forward movement much improved.
Paul Stewart had the first opportunity when he lined up on the corner of the boundary and 50 metre arc - pushing it to the left side - but followed quickly by a goal to Justin Westhoff.
Again, Sydney punished Port Adelaide. A massive brain fade by Hamish Hartlett kicking out from defence resulted in an easy goal to the Swans, before the lack of pressure around the ball at a critical juncture on fifty gave them a second.
With the Swans opening their lead, Port Adelaide had to respond, and used the ball effectively to get some late inside 50s.
A neat passage of play late in the term allowed Brad Ebert to kick a goal from a thirty metre set shot and close the Bloods’ advantage to sixteen points at the main change.
Half Time Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 5. 6 (36)
Sydney 8. 4 (52)
Goals: Schulz, Surjan, Broadbent, Westhoff, Brad Ebert
Port Adelaide 5. 6 (36)
Sydney 8. 4 (52)
Goals: Schulz, Surjan, Broadbent, Westhoff, Brad Ebert
Stats
Marks: Trengove 8, Chaplin 7, P. Stewart 6, Broadbent 5
Disposals: P. Stewart 19, Broadbent, Cornes, Trengove 15
Tackles: Cassisi 4, Boak 3
Hitouts: Redden 16, D. Stewart 3
Third quarter
Port Adelaide came out firing from the outset of the third quarter with goals to Schulz and Ebert - their second each for the game.
With both sides playing contested football, it was difficult for the Power to close the gap on Sydney, but the side’s third goal, this time to Daniel Stewart from a smart Broadbent kick, reduced it to a nine point ball game.
Battling one of the best defensive sides in the competition, the young Power team battled against the high-pressure opposition to break through for a third goal through Justin Westhoff - his third for the game.
Port Adelaide trails the Sydney Swans by 3 points at the final change.
Three Quarter Time Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 9.9 (63)
Sydney 10. 6 (66)
Goals: Schulz, Westhoff, Brad Ebert 2, Surjan, Broadbent, D. Stewart
Stats
Marks: Trengove 10, Brad Ebert 9, Chaplin 8
Disposals: Trengove 22, Cornes, Westhoff 21, Hartlett 20
Tackles: Cassisi 8, Boak 5
Hitouts: Redden 21, D. Stewart 5
Fourth quarter
Port Adelaide conceded the first goal of the term but it was not for want of trying.
The Power tackled in numbers and generally made their most of their opportunities in the midfield to send the ball forward.
Alipate Carlile was subbed off early in the term for Cameron O’Shea.
A solid team effort from Jay Schulz and Danyle Pearce in Port Adelaide’s pocket set up Daniel Stewart for a kick in front of goals.
Sydney responded with quick clearances and put on six majors to open up a comfortable lead.
Daniel Stewart clawed the scores back with a late goal and Matthew Thomas kicked truly for his first - leaving the final margin at 22 points.
Port Adelaide travels to play Collingwood next week.
Final Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 12.11 (83) def by
Sydney 16.9 (105)
Goals: D. Stewart, Schulz, Westhoff, Brad Ebert 2, Surjan, Broadbent, Thomas
Stats
Disposals: Cassisi 26, Trengove 25, Westhoff 24
Marks: Brad Ebert 12, Chaplin, Trengove 11
Tackles: Cassisi 7, Boak, Gray 5
Hitouts: Redden 26, D. Stewart 6
Disposals: P. Stewart 19, Broadbent, Cornes, Trengove 15
Tackles: Cassisi 4, Boak 3
Hitouts: Redden 16, D. Stewart 3
Third quarter
Port Adelaide came out firing from the outset of the third quarter with goals to Schulz and Ebert - their second each for the game.
With both sides playing contested football, it was difficult for the Power to close the gap on Sydney, but the side’s third goal, this time to Daniel Stewart from a smart Broadbent kick, reduced it to a nine point ball game.
Battling one of the best defensive sides in the competition, the young Power team battled against the high-pressure opposition to break through for a third goal through Justin Westhoff - his third for the game.
Port Adelaide trails the Sydney Swans by 3 points at the final change.
Three Quarter Time Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 9.9 (63)
Sydney 10. 6 (66)
Goals: Schulz, Westhoff, Brad Ebert 2, Surjan, Broadbent, D. Stewart
Stats
Marks: Trengove 10, Brad Ebert 9, Chaplin 8
Disposals: Trengove 22, Cornes, Westhoff 21, Hartlett 20
Tackles: Cassisi 8, Boak 5
Hitouts: Redden 21, D. Stewart 5
Fourth quarter
Port Adelaide conceded the first goal of the term but it was not for want of trying.
The Power tackled in numbers and generally made their most of their opportunities in the midfield to send the ball forward.
Alipate Carlile was subbed off early in the term for Cameron O’Shea.
A solid team effort from Jay Schulz and Danyle Pearce in Port Adelaide’s pocket set up Daniel Stewart for a kick in front of goals.
Sydney responded with quick clearances and put on six majors to open up a comfortable lead.
Daniel Stewart clawed the scores back with a late goal and Matthew Thomas kicked truly for his first - leaving the final margin at 22 points.
Port Adelaide travels to play Collingwood next week.
Final Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 12.11 (83) def by
Sydney 16.9 (105)
Goals: D. Stewart, Schulz, Westhoff, Brad Ebert 2, Surjan, Broadbent, Thomas
Stats
Disposals: Cassisi 26, Trengove 25, Westhoff 24
Marks: Brad Ebert 12, Chaplin, Trengove 11
Tackles: Cassisi 7, Boak, Gray 5
Hitouts: Redden 26, D. Stewart 6
