AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game
Round: 1 Venue: Norwood Oval Date: Thu, 03-04-2014 7:15 pm Crowd: 6,324 | |||||
Norwood | 4.4.28 | 7.5.47 | 10.8.68 | 11.10.76 | |
Port Adelaide Magpies | 1.2.8 | 4.3.27 | 5.7.37 | 8.9.57 | |
NORW by 20 | NORW by 20 | NORW by 31 | NORW by 19 |
At Coopers Stadium the Redlegs fronted up against old rivals Port Adelaide on Thursday night in the first match televised by 7-Mate. The Redlegs would raise their 29th SANFL flag against their long-time enemies, a title they took at the expense of the Roosters and another year the Magpies spent watching from the outer after a sixth-placed finish. The Magpies future was, in many supporter's eyes, finished when they became the Power's reserves. A great number of that cheer squad was noticeably absent from Norwood this time, the last time the Magpies visited they were sent packing by 63 points in Round 18 last season, but this time the 'Legs would be missing all but eight premiership stars.
The Redlegs started off best although rather inaccurate, the Magpies would have been lucky not to have been down by more than the 20 points set at quarter-time with the scoreboard reading 4.4 to 1.2. The second quarter was evenly fought on the scoreboard as both sides added 3.1 to their scores to keep the 20 point deficit at half-time. The Redlegs took advantage of a wasteful Port in the third quarter, when play resumed the home side added 3.3 to 1.4 to take the gap out to 31 points. The Magpies made a last-ditch run at the Redlegs in the final term, perhaps taking advantage of some over-confidence or last quarter tiredness. But they wouldn't get too close, 3.2 to 1.2 not enough to deny the reigning premiers victory to the tune of 19 points. Matthew Panos would be voted best afield for the Redlegs, while Tom Logan was named best for the 'Pies.