Port Adelaide has defeated St Kilda by 4 points in the opening match of the 2012 AFL Premiership Season.

First Quarter

In front of a 21,179-strong crowd, Port Adelaide kicked off its first game for the 2012 premiership season by winning the toss and kicking with the breeze.

From the opening bounce, the Power played the contested football and won. Right around the ground, Port Adelaide's new-look side tackled harder and placed heavy pressure on the St Kilda players throughout the term.

John McCarthy booted Port Adelaide’s first goal for the 2012 season with a snap from the right forward pocket. He was followed quickly by Jay Schulz kicking his first from a set shot, and John Butcher crumbing well to slot the Power’s third goal by the 10 minute mark.

Justin Koschitzke proved a challenge for the Power’s defenders - taking two marks - but the effort of the midfield to restrict the St Kilda forward entry to fewer than seven inside 50s ensured the Power held strong.

Schulz led the Power’s goal scorers with two majors, whilst Hamish Hartlett added the home side’s fifth to the score tally.

Notable performances include Daniel Stewart, Jay Schulz and Kane Cornes whilst Jarrad Redden has held well during his formal debut as lead ruckman.

First quarter scoreboard
Port Adelaide 5. 2 (32) lead
St Kilda 2. 1 (13)

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Second quarter

A stronger breeze aiding them, St Kilda came out firing early with two quick goals to Stephen Milne and Leigh Montagna.

Chad Wingard showed glimpses of his brilliance - particularly with a strong running effort from the interchange wing through to the top of the 50-metre line - evading some three charging Saints in the process.

The strong winds adding extra mileage to the Saints' kicks helped bridge the visitors’ gap back to a solitary point ten minutes into the quarter, before Brad Ebert kicked truly from forty metres to steady the ship.

The Power maintained their share of possession, but struggled kicking into the strong breeze. Travis Boak slotted a much-needed goal at the twenty-minute mark to put the margin out to 15 points.

Port Adelaide was unlucky to lose out in a handful of critical contests and reached the half time break three points behind.

Half time scoreboard
Port Adelaide 8. 6 (54) trails
St Kilda 9. 3 (57)


Third quarter

Port Adelaide dominated the stoppages and close-in contests from the outset of the second half and an early goal to Daniel Stewart regained the ascendency for the Power.

The home side was soon up against it though - with a challenging St Kilda defensive effort suffocating the free flow of play. Justin Westhoff was able to slot one from 30 metres in front, but the Saints kept coming and levelled the scores at the eighteen-minute mark.

The two sides duked-out a stalemate through the centre third - negative styles of play that, for a time, looked unlikely to break a scoring drought.

It was Brad Ebert who prevailed for the home side, with a strong running goal bringing up his second for the match and opening a six point lead.

After rucking for the majority of the game, Jarrad Redden was subbed off at the 24 minute point with David Rodan coming into the action.

The defensive deadlock maintained through to the end of the third quarter, with Port Adelaide holding a five point lead into the final change.

Three quarter time scoreboard
Port Adelaide 11. 9 (75) lead
St Kilda 11. 4 (70)


Fourth quarter

The deadlock that had ended the third quarter played out in the second. Again both teams struggled in the windy conditions to break the pressure place on by each other.

A splinter-thin mark by Justin Westhoff on the Port Adelaide goal line was sent to the view review - awarded justly - and resulted in the big Barossa Valleyman kicking the Power’s first for the quarter. It was a critical goal given the shortage of scoring and was followed by another important major from David Rodan.

A Dal Santo goal closed the Saints' gap but Port Adelaide held strong in defence to rebound numerous times and send the ball back down into their scoring end.

The final quarter was a nail-biter with time running in excess of thirty minutes. It was a Hamish Hartlett kick to Cameron O’Shea that delivered the winning opportunity which, despite it falling short of a score, gave Port Adelaide enough time to hold through to the final siren - a four point win and the best way to kick off their 2012 campaign.


Final scores
Port Adelaide 13. 11 (89) defeated
St Kilda 13. 7 (85)


Disposals: Cornes 27, Hartlett 26, McCarthy 23, Cassisi, Brad Ebert 21
Tackles: Brad Ebert 11, Thomas 9
Hitouts: Redden 21, D. Stewart 15
Goals: Butcher, Brad Ebert, Schulz, Westhoff 2, Boak, Hartlett, McCarthy, D. Stewart, Rodan