Pre game
PORT Adelaide made one late change prior to the game with Jackson Trengove being brought into the side for the injured David Rodan (hamstring)
PORT Adelaide vice captain Travis Boak won the toss and elected to kick to the northern end.
First Quarter
Port Adelaide won the opening clearance and quickly set up Paul Stewart with the first shot on goal - the round 8 game winner putting the Power’s first goal for the night on the board.
The Crows were able to respond however from the second centre bounce, with Tom Logan conceding a push in the back to Tim McIntrye.
Adelaide proceeded to kick its second, albeit through a lucky bounce to a Kurt Tippet snap.
Continuing to maintain possession, the Crows were unable to break the Power defence, with Troy Chaplin particularly playing strong in the black, white and teal.
Port was able to break the midfield apart through Brad Ebert and Travis Boak, Aaron Young and Jacob Surjan setting the ball inside 50. Brett Ebert managed to win possession in the deep forward pocket and instead of choosing to snap around the body, unselfishly set up Chad Wingard forty metres from goal to convert Port’s second.
Despite the two teams trading goals, the Crows again managed to sneak back the ascendency through Ricky Henderson who converted two set shots. Unable to convert its opportunities, Matthew Lobbe particularly having a shot on goal adjudged ‘touched’ by the video umpire, the Crows executed its fifth goal to open an 19 point lead.
Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 2.1 (13) trails
Adelaide Crows 5.2 (32)
Stats
Disposals: Brad Ebert 8, Boak, Chaplin, McCarthy 6, Young 5
Marks: P. Stewart 4, Young 3
Tackles: Moore, Pfeiffer 2
Hitouts: Lobbe 7, Trengove 2
Goals: Wingard, P. Stewart
Dreamteam: P. Stewart 27, Chaplin 23, Brad Ebert, Young 22
Second quarter
The Crows came out of the blocks quickly in the second quarter, a score review depriving them of the opening goal, but a turnover from Port’s subsequent kick in giving the opportunity back.
Trailing by 25 points, Port responded through Paul Stewart, the Power utility kicking his second (and Port Adelaide’s third) for the evening.
The margin back to 19 points, Adelaide again converted through Porplyzia to extend the margin once again.
Through the fourteenth minute of the term, Port Adelaide was able to wrest control of the ball inside attacking 50, but with the ball spilling to ground the Power’s snaps were unable to find the middle sticks - Brad Ebert missing the fourth opportunity within that period to put Port’s score at 3.5.
Patrick Dangerfield put another on the board for the Crows and by the twenty minute mark of the term the Grows held a six goal buffer over the ‘home’ side.
Lad by some crafty play from Showdown veteran Kane Cornes, Paul Stewart was able to convert his third for the evening - leading the way for Port Adelaide up forward.
Port Adelaide trails by 30 points at half time.
Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 4.6 (30) trails
Adelaide Crows 9.6 (60)
Stats
Disposals: Boak 15, Chaplin, Brad Ebert 14, Broadbent, Cornes, McCarthy 11
Marks: Chaplin 6, P. Stewart 5, Broadbent 4
Tackles: Moore, Pfeiffer 3, Broadbent 2
Hitouts: Lobbe 8, Trengove 2
Goals: P. Stewart 3, Wingard
Dreamteam: Chaplin 61, P. Stewart 57, Broadbent 52
Third quarter
Needing to find some of the old Port Adelaide fire, the Power came out and set up a tall-marking Brett Ebert to convert his first for the evening.
The goal seemed to channel just part of a higher intensity for the Power’s on-field brigade - with pressure around the ball and a noticeable willingness to move the footy forward, Port worked the ball into its attacking 50 to deliver a solid mark to John Butcher.
Appearing initially reluctant to take the shot, having returned into the Power’s starting 22 following a hip complaint, Butcher proceeded to launch the ball 50 metres through the middle of the goals.
Bridging the margin back to 18 points, Port Adelaide was unfortunate to concede an after-disposal free kick to the Crows’ Douglas who, provided another shot on goal, put the Crows four goals in front and backed it up quickly with his second for the night.
Port refused to concede however, and Paul Stewart snapped his fourth for the night in a continuation of his impressive performance across the forward 50.
The Crows again converted to bring the margin back out, but Port dominated possession and were able to work the ball back inside 50 repeatedly.
Despite this, its inaccuracy in front of goal and lack of the 'little things' going its way severely prevented the Power from bridging the gap.
Port Adelaide trails by 36 points at three quarter time
Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 7.8 (50) trails
Adelaide Crows 13.8 (86)
Stats
Disposals: Boak, Chaplin 20, Brad Ebert 18, McCarthy 15
Marks: Chaplin 8, P. Stewart 7, Pfeiffer 5
Tackles: Chaplin, Pfeiffer 4
Hitouts: Lobbe 9, Trengove 5
Goals: P. Stewart 4, Butcher, Brett Ebert, Wingard
Dreamteam: Chaplin 94, P. Stewart 88, Pfeiffer 70
Fourth quarter
Trailing by 36 points at the outset of the final term, Port Adelaide again failed to win favour with the football gods.
The Power only managed to kick one goal for the quarter - on the run through Travis Boak - to the Crows’ five.
Port simply lacked the execution and clearance work to put the ball inside 50 - capping off a tough night for supporters at AAMI Stadium.
Paul Stewart was unable to convert his fifth from the evening - outside of Boak’s running goal it was the only real opportunity in front of the goal.
The Power eventually went down by 58, its score doubled by the conclusion of play.
Port Adelaide’s next match is at home to Essendon on Saturday 14 July.
Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 8.10 (58) def by
Adelaide 17.14 (116)
Stats
Disposals: Boak 25, Chaplin 22, Brad Ebert 20, Pfeiffer 18
Marks: Chaplin 10, P. Stewart 8, Westhoff 7
Tackles: Boak, Chaplin 5
Hitouts: Lobbe 12, Trengove 5
Goals: P. Stewart 4, Boak, Butcher, Brett Ebert, Wingard
Dreamteam: Chaplin 110, Boak 95, P. Stewart 94
