Australian Football

Match Report

Port Adelaide's slim finals chances remain alive after the Power made short work of St Kilda at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday. Port won all four quarters to win by 63 points to move half a game closer to eighth place. The Saints never looked like making an impact in the match, and their young players may be feeling the pinch of a long season. Poor kicking did not help their cause, with the side finishing on 6.13 in contrast to Port's 17.10.

The Power attacked right from the beginning and after Paddy Ryder kicked a behind within the first minute, Justin Westhoff and Chad Wingard kicked majors to put Port 13 points ahead. Andrew Moore made it 19 points with his first at the 14-minute mark, before Luke Dunstan registered St Kilda's first as the term entered time-on. Jay Schulz kicked Port's fourth at the 27-minute mark, and it was the Power by 19 at the first break. 

Jake Neade goaled on the run to give Port its fifth at the four-minute mark of the second quarter but there were no further goals for the next 10 minutes. St Kilda had its chances, though. Paddy McCartin, Jack Steven, Tom Hickey and Josh Bruce all had shots and missed, before Jack Sinclair finally found the big sticks at the 14-minute mark to cut Port's lead to 14. The Power got back on top after that, kicking three goals to one to lead by 25 points at the half. 

St Kilda's chances were virtually erased in the first 15 minutes of the third term, with Westhoff, Ryder and Matt White all kicking goals to extend Port's lead to 44 points. The Saints battled on after that, each side kicking one further major for the term but the Power was well in control at the last change, leading by 43. 

Port did not let up in the final term. Matthew Lobbe and Schulz goaled to take the Power to a 56-point lead, before Tim Membrey kicked the Saints' first of the final term at the 12-minute mark. Sam Gray, Neade and Wingard then added three more majors before Bruce kicked a consolation goal just before the final siren sounded, signalling a big win for Port.

Among Port's best were Robbie Gray (37 disposals, five tackles) and Westhoff (23 possessions, seven marks), while St Kilda had good players in Leigh Montagna (26 touches and two goals) and Jack Steven (eight tackles, 22 disposals). 

The Power will take on the much improved Bulldogs at Docklands next Saturday, while St Kilda will host top side Fremantle at the same venue the next day.

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Wingard 4; White, Schulz, Neade, Westhoff 2; Moore, R. Gray, Lobbe, S. Gray, Ryder
St Kilda: Montagna 2; Dunstan, Sinclair, Bruce, Membrey

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Port Adelaide: R. Gray, Westhoff, Boak, Young, S. Gray, Wingard
St Kilda: Montagna, Steven, Newnes, Savage, Armitage, Geary

BEST - THE AGE
Port Adelaide: Gray, Hartlett, Boak, Wingard, Westhoff, Lobbe
St Kilda: Montagna, Armitage, Roberton, Geary, Steven, Hickey

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Wines (shoulder)
St Kilda: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Sam Colquhoun replaced Ollie Wines at quarter-time
St Kilda: Tim Membrey replaced Billy Longer at half-time

UMPIRES: Findlay, Harris, McInerney

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Gerard Healy, Mark Ricciuto, Ben Dixon