PORT ADELAIDE has lost a thriller in front of a record Adelaide Oval crowd in Showdown 42.
Despite being put to the sword but a premium quarter-and-a-half by the Crows, Port clicked into gear late in the third where hard running and pressure around the footy crafted three goals to Boak, Eddy and Wingard.
That bridged a game-high 26-point deficit to 14 points at the final change.
With a tenterhooks finish to one of the most hyped Showdowns in recent memory, the deficit was closed to seven thanks to a sizzling second goal to Wingard, seemingly brought to life after a quiet opening half.
When Sam Gray dodged and weaved in the goal square, the Power was staring at one-point ball game, but his point-blank range snap yielded just that – a point – when the leather found wood work.
Adelaide punished the mistake with four of the next five goals – Walker adding two more to a personal tally of four for the night.
When Paddy Ryder conceded a late free against Riley Knight, the ensuing goal brought up the Crows’ century, and an inevitable win.
It’s a crushing way to bring the Power’s first loss for the year up, the Showdown ledger now square at 21 apiece.
There were individual highlights for Port throughout the night – Ollie Wines a noteworthy contributor with 30 touches and eight clearances to continue his club-leading form for 2017.
Travis Boak and Brad Ebert toiled in the midfield, while Darcy Byrne-Jones was solid playing defensively.
Paddy Ryder had a career-high 48 hit outs in a dominant ruck performance.
Port Adelaide’s focus now turns to the GWS Giants in a game at University of NSW Oval in Canberra on Saturday 15 April at 4.35pm AEST.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 4.6 6.6 9.8 12.11 (83)
ADELAIDE CROWS 3.3 7.9 11.10 15.10 (100)
BEST
Wines, Byrne-Jones, Polec, Ryder, Ebert
GOALS
Wingard, Wines, R. Gray 2, Westhoff, Impey, Dixon, Boak, Eddy, Powell-Pepper
INJURIES
TBC
CROWD
53,698 at the Adelaide Oval – record crowd
