Australian Football

Match Report

We're now head over to the north-western suburbs and into the Alberton Oval for the game between the Magpies and the Bulldogs. These clubs traded victories from their two encounters last season, the Magpies taking a three-goal win at Elizabeth after a horror run of five losses, but in Round 18 the Bulldogs bit back at Alberton with their 22-point win. From their respective games last week, the Magpies rebounded from their loss to Norwood with a 37-point win at Woodville, while the Dogs were brought back to earth by Adelaide to the tune of 35 points. 

Both sides started off pretty strongly, despite some inaccuracy from the Magpies that allowed the Dogs to stay within a kick of the lead come quarter-time. The 'Pies led by two points at the first change, 3.4 to 3.2. Some more inaccuracy from Port continued to keep the Dogs in the contest in the second term, they scored 5.3 to 4.1 to extend their advantage to 10 points going into the long break. The Dogs remained a serious threat in the third quarter, even though the Magpies were able to add to their half-time lead. Port scored 5.1 to Centrals' 4.2 as the gap crept out to 15 points at three quarter-time. Unfortunately for the Dogs, the ticker they displayed for three quarters stopped at the wrong time again, the Magpies running out comfortable 34-point winners on the back of a 5.3 to 2.2 final term. 

Billy Frampton kicked four goals and took best afield votes for Port, while Troy Menzel also scored four goals to take best play honours for Centrals.