A SIX-GOAL haul from forward Jay Schulz has helped guide Port Adelaide to an emphatic 95-point win over Greater Western Sydney in the NAB Challenge game at Willaston Oval on Saturday.
Schulz started the game opposed to GWS debutant Israel Folau and took full advantage of the rugby-league convert's inexperience, kicking three goals in the opening term.
The ex-Richmond utility added another three majors after the first change to top Port Adelaide's goalkicking in the 21.13 (139) to 6.8 (44) win.
Gerald Ugle was the only multiple goalkicker for the Giants, kicking two goals in yet another heavy defeat for the young side..
Port Adelaide's big win was marred by a foot injury to midfielder Matt Thomas.
Doctors feared Thomas had suffered a recurrence of the debilitating plantar fasciitis that derailed his 2008 season, but after the game coach Matthew Primus said he was optimistic the hard-nosed onballer would be available for the club's season-opener.
"The main thing was that we got through unscathed without any injuries except for Matty Thomas, but he's a chance to play in round one and the guys we eased back into it all got through okay," Primus said
"To the players' credit I thought they kept on working pretty hard no matter what the scoreboard [said]."
Rookie-listed onballer Jarrad Irons also sat out the second half, after jarring his knee.
Injury-prone midfielders Robbie Gray and Hamish Hartlett continued their impressive pre-seasons, while Matthew Broadbent pressed his claims for a place in the team for round one with a dominant display.
High-profile Giants recruit Folau, in his first hit-out since making the switch from rugby league last year, displayed great evasive skills and athleticism but not surprisingly lacked game sense, suggesting his transition to the AFL will be a gradual one.
Schulz lost Folau on the lead several times in the opening term and capitalised with four first-half goals goals.
GWS coach Kevin Sheedy moved Folau into attack in the third term and the rugby-league convert responded with a superb high mark, before being switched back into defence for the last quarter. He ended the day with a handful of possessions.
After the game, Sheedy said he was pleased with his boom recruit's first hit-out.
"Izzy's starting position when Port Adelaide had the ball was probably a little bit far away from his opponent at times…but to get out and play a game of 360-degree footy…I thought he was okay," Sheedy said.
"He probably had the best handball of the whole match [in the last quarter] and hardly anybody saw it because it was that quick. His kicking is okay and he's definitely not afraid. If he can build on that I'll be quite happy."
PORT ADELAIDE 5.4 12.11 14.13 21.13 (139)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 1.3 2.3 4.7 6.8 (44)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Schulz 6, Motlop, Gray, Hitchcock 3, Boak, Broadbent 2, Westhoff, Hartlett
Greater Western Sydney: Ugle 2, Cameron, Tunbridge, Giles, Clifton
BEST
Port Adelaide: Schulz, Gray, Boak, Hartlett, Broadbent, Carlile
Greater Western Sydney: Giles, Cameron, Ugle, Miles
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Thomas (plantar fasciitis), Irons (ankle)
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Grun, Hay, Bowen
Official crowd: 4104 at Willaston Oval
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
