Australian Football

Match Report

Adelaide was never threatned during a showdown that wasn’t one of the greatest. Although Port Adelaide were missing a number of their best players, they struggled to even be competitive. The gap between a potential top-four side and a bottom four team was there for the whole world to see. Even without key forward Taylor Walker (missing through suspension), the Crows found avenues to goal. Ricky Henderson popped up to slot a career-high six goals for Adelaide, filling the hole left by Walker and Kurt Tippett, who was concussed in a clash early in the game. Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs was simply outstanding on his way to winning the Showdown medal. Jacobs had a Champion Data all-time record 61 hitouts to give his midfield teammates first use of the Sherrin around the ground. For the Power, Paul Stewart played a lone hand up forward, finishing with four of his side’s eight goals.

GOALS

Port Adelaide: Stewart 4; Wingard, Boak, Brett Ebert, Butcher

Adelaide: Henderson 6; Martin 3; McIntyre 2; Dangerfield, Douglas, Knights, Porplyzia, Sloane, Tippett


BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Port Adelaide: Stewart, Boak, Pfeiffer, Brad Ebert

Adelaide: Jacobs, Thompson, Henderson, Rutten, Talia, Vince, van Berlo, Dangerfield

BEST - THE AGE
Adelaide: Jacobs, Thompson, Henderson, Smith, Reilly, Vince
Port Adelaide: P Stewart, Brad Ebert, Boak, Broadbent, Pfeiffer, McCarthy

COACHES COMMENTS
Matthew Primus (Port): That's easy to say after a win and harder to say after a loss, but we are going to continue to keep believing in this group and pushing them to high standards and expecting them to play at a better level week in and week out. This is disappointing, especially against our arch rivals who we hate to lose to, but it's happened, and we're going to learn from it.

Brenton Sanderson (Adel): Showdowns are special, they require special efforts from individuals and the team, and I did put it on 'Sauce' (Sam Jacobs) in front of the team that we did need something special from him in the second half. To his credit he stayed on the ground the whole time, didn't come off; they tried going a third up against him as well and that didn't work.

Umpires: Margetts, Dalgleish, Bannister