PORT ADELAIDE has backed up its practice game win over Adelaide a week ago with a 71-point win over the same opponent in the AAMI Community Series game at Noarlunga on Sunday afternoon.

Port had the opening goal within 40 seconds and was never headed as it went on to win 17.14 (116) to 6.9 (45) in a solid final outing before the start of the premiership season.

Orazio Fantasia had three first half goals before being subbed out of the game and was one of ten separate goal kickers.

Dan Houston was brilliant off half back with 34 disposals and 16 marks and recruit Aliir Aliir showed his value with 14 marks and 21 disposals at centre half back as Port punished a developing Crows outfit.

It was a bright start by Port with Zak Butters roving perfectly off a Pete Ladhams attempted mark so dribble home the opening goal.

Robbie Gray goaled soon after to make it two when Port’s pressure and weight of numbers inside forward 50 paid off and when Orazio Fantasia snapped home after a scrappy forward entry, Port led by 19 points.

The Crows had the first four clearances of the game after being well beaten in that area when the sides met in a practice game last week but Port’s defence was holding firm, and with Ollie Wines, Karl Amon and Dan Houston getting plenty of the ball had 16 inside 50s to eight in the first quarter.

But, for all their dominance the team classed as the visitors at Noarlunga were wasteful in front of goal with Fantasia missing three set shots and Dixon two to leave Port up by 23 points at the first change.

Port continued its dominance in the second term with Fantasia adding another two goals – his first a snap inside 40 seconds.

His fellow new recruit Aliir Aliir was marshalling the defence, and led the game with seven marks while showing his trademark rebound off half back.

Despite opening up a 38-point advantage after Kane Farrell danced around an opponent and snapped truly, Port continued its ferocious attack on the footy.

Taylor Walker got the Crows their first major with four minutes played but his opponents were dominant and had they been more accurate the margin would have been far greater at the main change.

Port rang the changes at half time with prime movers Charlie Dixon, Travis Boak, Fantasia and Tom Clurey given an early shower and Tom Rockliff, Lachlan Jones, Mitch Georgiades and Jackson Mead getting their opportunity to impress ahead of Round 1.

The Crows started well when Walker narrowed the deficit with a goal inside the opening minute of the third quarter but it was all Port from that point on – the sole break in Port’s play was a snapped goal to Lachlan Scholl on his 21^st birthday.

Connor Rozee and Georgiades booted two goals each in the term with Georgiades’ aerial prowess impressing the solid crowd at Noarlunga.

Not to be outdone, Butters had the crowd on its feet with a big mark in the centre of the field with si minute on the clock

When Ollie Wines snapped from 50 metres out off one step and Ladhams roved his own ball and goaled as he fell to the ground, Port was 50 pointes up.

Dan Houston was busy off half back with 26 touches to the final change and Rozee’s second goal, a snap that bounced at right angles right on the siren had his side lead by 61 points with a quarter to play.

As he did in the second and third terms, Walker had an early goal but it only saw Port respond with two of its own, through Ladhams after he followed a big mark by Rozee with one of his own and Gray, who marked over the back and ran into an open goal for his second.

Shane McAdam snapped a consolation goal from a tight angle before Mead booted his first goal at the level top stretch the margin to 66 points.

Such was Port’s dominance that heading into time on it had broken the AFL record for marks by a team in a game, surpassing Richmond’s 181 against Adelaide in 2006.

Houston iced a comprehensive performance with a long goal from 50 as Port came home with a 71-point win to head into the season with some momentum.

SCOREBOARD

PORT ADELAIDE            3.6      6.10        12.12     17.14   (116)             

ADELAIDE                     0.1      1.2            3.5        6.9  (45)              

Goals

Fantasia 3, Georgiades, Gray, Rozee, Ladhams, Wines 2, Butters, Farrell, Mead, Houston

Best

Houston, Aliir, Amon, Wines, Bonner, Fantasia, Butters, Gray, Georgiades