PORT ADELAIDE has claimed the outright lead in the Showdown ledger after a 49-point-win in its 49th meeting with the Crows.
After a low-scoring but high intensity opening, Port eventually stretched away from its crosstown rival to win 12.15 (87) to 5.8 (38).
With Adelaide Oval returning to full capacity for the first time since 2019, it was a boisterous Port Adelaide home crowd with plenty of black and white prison bars on show despite the AFL not allowing the club to wear the guernsey as requested.
The electric atmosphere translated into a hot start on the field with Port starting the better. Charlie Dixon was a constant threat across the ground and it was the imposing forward who opened the scoring after a strong mark 40 metres out.
Crow James Rowe responded a few minutes later and then the intensity started to take a toll with Travis Boak and then Ned McHenry and Lachie Murphy limping from the ground. Murphy was subbed out with an ankle injury and McHenry was out with concussion, with Andrew McPherson coming on for the visitors. Boak was able to return in time to witness Dion’s second goal, after a free kick inside 50.
A 10-point quarter time margin became 20 points at the main break with Dixon again involved in the scoring. It was his dish off that allowed Todd Marshall to dribble home a goal from 35 metres out.
Willem Drew’s left foot snap extended the margin and both sides missed opportunities in a low-scoring affair.
For all of their pressure, the Crows were unable to make a dent on the scoreboard with just the one major to half time.
Boak had been busy to the break with 19 disposals and five clearances while his side dominated all of the key statistics without hurting the Crows too much on the scoreboard in the first half.
The Crows had the first of the third term and two of the first three. Todd Marshall’s snap after finding himself free inside 50 sandwiched between majors to Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty.
Dan Houston was substituted off with a shoulder injury, bringing Martin Frederick into the game as Port booted four of the next five to stretch the margin to 35-points at the final change.
Showdown debutant Mitch Georgiades had consecutive goals after taking two easy marks inside 50 and Marshall was hit lace-out by Boak on the lead to slot his third as all of Port’s tall forwards responded to a goalless game against Brisbane last week.
Kane Farrell’s long bomb from outside 50 just before the three-quarter time siren had the home crowd on its feet and gave Port all the momentum heading into the final stanza.
Much of the final term was a stalemate. It took until the 13th minute for Crows skipper Rory Sloane to break the deadlock from a set shot and then Orazio Fantasia responded for Port after Dixon’s one handed pick-up and Marshall’s clever centred pass.
Connor Rozee got in on the act with a long-range goal from just outside the paint of 50.
Steven Motlop added to the scoresheet after he marked at the top of the square and converted deep in the fourth term.
Travis Boak received the Showdown Medal for the third time in his career for his 28 disposal, six clearance game.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 2.4 4.6 9.10 12.15 (87)
ADELAIDE 1.0 1.4 4.5 5.8 (38)
Goals
Marshall 3, Dixon, Georgiades 2, Drew, Farrell, Fantasia, Rozee, Motlop.
Best
Lycett, Jonas, Boak, Clurey, Marshall, Drew.
Crowd
43,069 at Adelaide Oval
