Australian Football

Match Report

In the last match of Round 13, we head down to Alberton Oval for an aerial dust-up between the two feathered tribes of the Magpies and the Eagles. The Eagles had it all over the Magpies for the better part of the last four years, with wins between 14 and 32 points over seven matches stretching from Round 4 in 2009 to the final round of last season. But after the euphoria of the 2011 premiership came the beginning of the hangover, the opening round of 2012 saw the Magpies take a 55-point win at Adelaide Airport Oval in Thebarton. The Eagles finally looked competitive after their 45-point triumph last week, while Port weren't as lucky at the Ponderosa.

The 'Pies were horribly inaccurate at goal in the early stages, both teams had 30 points on the board at quarter-time but from Port's nine scores came six behinds while the Eagles bagged five perfect scores. The Magpies were far less resistant in the second term as the Eagles kicked off to a half-time 19-point lead after they managed just two behinds to the visitors' 3.3. The momentum would continue to carry the Eagles when play resumed, they would go on to add a further 4.2 to Port's lowly 1.1 to double their half-time advantage to 38 points. The Eagles had finally strung a couple of wins together, climbing to eighth place and dumping Port to last as the visitors left Alberton with a 33-point win after kicking 2.2 to 3.1 in the final term.

Chris Knights was named best for the Eagles, while the Magpies named Shayne Biasci as their best afield.