Australian Football

Match Report

The second match for the afternoon brings us to the Qualifying Final, which was a meeting of the old-time rivals in the Magpies and the Double Blues. Only 18 times in SANFL history has the winner of the Qualifying Final gone on to take out the title, in fact the last three premiers came from being victors in the first week of finals football, including the Blues of 2016. The Magpies have done it on six occasions, the most recent successes being the trio of title wins of 1994-1996, as well as holding the record score of 23.17 (155) against the Bulldogs in 1989 and the only drawn qualifier ever in 1994, also against Centrals, which they won in extra time. They were denied by the Bloods in their last appearance in the qualifier, the Magpies one of their victims in their 2015 premiership year. For the Blues, they have featured in four of the last 10 Qualifying Finals. But aside from their success last season, the three other games all ended in defeat to the eventual premiers in Centrals (2008 & 2009) and Norwood (2014). Their most famous premiership year in 1976 actually began with a loss to Glenelg before they rebounded to take the flag three weeks later. But here's something amazing about this game, its a first time meeting. That's right, since the introduction of Qualifying Finals in 1973, these two clubs have played 27 games each but have never met each other in one until now.

Loaded with a full complement of Power-listed players, the last month and a bit has been good to the Magpies. After crashing to a defeat at the hands of Centrals in Round 13, they went on a rampage of victories starting with the Tigers and ending with a 40-point win over North last weekend. In that same period, the Blues had the same sort of chain of wins but ended their home and away season with a draw against the Redlegs. The early proceedings had the Blues take the first pair of goals before the Magpies responded with four unanswered majors of their own, only inaccuracy and desperate defending stopped a bigger gap. It was 4.5 to 2.2 at quarter-time, Port by 15 points. The Magpies accuracy was well and truly improved in the second term though, bagging 5.2 to Sturt's 2.2 to go into the long break with a 33-point advantage. From here it looked as if the AFL class would truly win out over the Blues, but when play restarted the defending premiers came out all guns blazing and took it up to the full-timers. Sturt would leak just one goal in the third quarter, but kept Port silent for the remainder of the quarter and land home 5.1 for themselves to bring the gap back to just one straight kick by the final change. The Blues managed to bring the Magpies back to within striking distance of an upset, kicking 2.3 to 1.3. But in time-on, the Magpies added a further 2.1 to seal a 15-point win and a date with the Eagles. 

Matt Lobbe was named best for Port, the Blues named Zane Kirkwood as their best on ground.