PORT ADELAIDE has recorded its eleventh win of the season, beating Sydney by 26 points at Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Charlie Dixon starred with four goals, and Robbie Gray got plenty of the ball, as Port saw off a stubborn Swans outfit 11.7 (73) to 7.5 (47) to keep its grip on the top of the ladder.
On a sunny Adelaide day, it was a bright start by the home side, which had the opening goal through Cam Sutcliffe.
Back in the side for just his third game of the season as one of five changes, the former Docker was in the right place at the right time and found a way to get a quick kick out of a pack to kick-start the scoring.
In a busy first quarter, Robbie Gray had eleven disposals and two goals - his first after strong forward pressure by his teammates and his second after a clever tap by Dixon when the big man was going to get tackled.
Tom Papley was proving dangerous in the Sydney front half, cleverly dribbling home his side’s first goal of the day and setting up another for ruckman Callum Sinclair after a brilliant low pick-up.
There was a hush over Adelaide Oval when young Zak Butters, running at full speed, appeared to hyperextend his ankle while running into an open goal with the ball, but the teenager got back to his feet and played out the game.
A goal after the siren to Jordan Dawson saw the Swans stay within eight points at the first break.
But that was as close as they got as Port threatened to blow the game open in the second term.
The visitors withstood Port’s pressure for eight minutes but then the dam burst, and Port piled on four goals to no score to hold a 32-point lead at the main break.
Dixon was imposing himself on the contest, booting consecutive goals to start the term before Travis Boak and Ollie Wines each added majors of their own – Wines’ was the pick of them from a very tight angle.
Gray continued to gather the ball despite sitting close to goal, racking up 19 touches, four tackles and three clearances in the first half but he was ably supported by Sam Powell-Pepper and Tom Rockliff through the middle, with each collecting 16.
The home side had only managed five more inside 50s to the break (23-18) and despite trailing in the hit-outs 21-19 was dominating in the clearances (29-11) and, where it counted, on the scoreboard.
The third quarter was played almost entirely on Sydney’s terms. They started to control the ball for large passages and pin Port into its defensive 50.
Had the Swans been more accurate, the pressure would have been telling but a goal to Sam Reid after five minutes was followed by three behinds before Nick Blakey showed his class with a checkside on the run just seconds before the siren rang to signal three quarter time.
In his 100th AFL game, Darcy Byrne-Jones showed his trademark desperate defensive work and Sam Powell-Pepper got the side going with his hunt and repeated efforts to turn the ball over but Port turned for the final quarter with an 18-point advantage and plenty of work to do.
With the wind at their backs and a boisterous but small home crowd willing them on, the Port players came out with renewed focus.
Dixon got them going with his fourth, and best, goal for the afternoon. He showed strength, agility, poise and class to outmuscle his opponent, twist and turn before snapping around the body for a goal of the year contender.
The Swans fired back through James Bell, who got a contentious free kick and just snuck his 45-metre kick over the line but Port was able to answer again through Butters, who was quick to get the ball from hand to foot after a clever hand off from Sutcliffe.
An end to end play which saw Sam Reid run into an open goal for his second would have worried the Port Adelaide coaching staff, but it was quickly forgotten when Justin Westhoff picked a ball up off his toes and snapped around his body to seal victory.
The 26-point win was far from convincing but at this end of the season getting the four points is all that matters.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 4.3 8.3 8.4 11.7 (73)
SYDNEY 3.1 3.1 5.4 7.5 (47)
Goals
Dixon 4, Gray 2, Sutcliffe, Boak, Wines, Butters, Westhoff
Best
Gray, Dixon, Clurey, Rockliff, Wines, Lycett, Byrne-Jones, Powell-Pepper
Crowd
Approx. 10,000 at Adelaide Oval.
