Australian Football

Match Report

Port Adelaide has defeated Gold Coast in an entertaining match at Football Park on Saturday afternoon to maintain a place in the top eight and keep its finals chances well and truly alive.

After the two sides traded behinds in the early stages of the match, the Power grabbed the initiative between the six and 14 minute marks of the first quarter, kicking four goals to none to establish a 22-point lead. Each team scored three goals for the remainder of the term and the Power took an even four-goal lead into the first break.

Gold Coast reversed the trend in the second quarter. Despite kicking into the breeze, the Suns held the Power goalless until the last minute, while kicking three goals of their own, to cut the margin to 13 points at the long break. The Suns continued to push hard early in the third term, and kicked the first three goals of the second half to grab a five-point lead at the six-minute mark.

The two sides continued to play out an enthralling struggle, with neither side able to gain a break of more than 10 points until half way through the last term when the Power finally pulled clear, kicking the last three goals of the match to win by 17 points.

Port skipper Travis Boak led magnificently for the Power, gathering the ball 35 times and kicking three goals, including a vital one in the last quarter. Brad Ebert (29 touches and a goal) and Robbie Gray (21 disposals) also played fine games. For the Suns, Harley Bennell played a great game. He kicked 3.3 and collected 28 touches, while Danny Stanley (26 possessions and two goals) and Dion Prestia (23 disposals) also played vital roles in keeping the Suns in touch.

Though they are in eighth place, two games clear of Carlton, the Power's claim to finals action has not been settled. They will play Fremantle in round 22 and Carlton in the last round and will have to win at least one of those matches to confirm their spot in the top eight. The Suns are out of finals contention but will be looking to finish off the season on a high note with wins against St Kilda at Docklands and GWS at home in their last two matches.

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Boak, Schulz 3; Westhoff, Wingard, Heath 2; Ebert, Young, Moore, Cornes
Gold Coast: Boston, Bennell 3; Stanley 2; Dixon, Gorringe, Hall, Hutchins, O'Meara, Sumner

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Port Adelaide: Boak, Monfries, Broadbent, Brad Ebert, Gray, Cornes
Gold Coast: Bennell, Stanley, Gorringe, Ablett, Prestia, O'Meara

BEST - SPORTAL.COM.AU
Port Adelaide: Boak, Brad Ebert, Cornes, Gray, Lobbe, Wingard, Trengove, Broadbent
Gold Coast: Bennell, Stanley, Prestia, O'Meara, Boston, Ablett, Gorringe

COACHES' COMMENTS
Ken Hinkley (Port): We started off pretty well and clearly they came back at us. In the end we were brave enough that we did keep coming and we've done what we've had to do a number of times, playing right until the end of the game, and we did it again today.

Guy McKenna (GCo): We didn't take our opportunities early. They jumped out of the blocks while we had two or three points that could have been goals. There was no rub of the green, if you like. But the boys spirit and resilience was fantastic; I can't fault that. The way the boys hung in was super. Hopefully out of today the boys understand how close they are.

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Colquhoun (back tightness) replaced in selected side by Aaron Young; Hitchcock (hamstring); Hartlett (shoulder)
Gold Coast: Tape (concussion)

SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Oliver Wines replaced Cameron Hitchcock at quarter time.
Gold Coast: Jackson Allen replaced Seb Tape in the second quarter

UMPIRES: Dalgelish, Leppard, Meredith

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Dwayne Russell, Dermott Brereton, Mark Ricciuto, Cameron Mooney