Australian Football

Match Report

The ABC cameras headed down the Port Road to the Alberton Oval where the Magpies hosted the Bloods. Westies have had the better part of the last dozen games against the Maggies, taking seven matches including their last stoush in Round 14 which was also at Alberton. The Bloods raided the 'Pies nest for a 17-point win, in a match that yielded just 13 goals from 24 scores. Of course that didn't hold a candle to the match from late-2010 which the Bloods won by a kick, that had just 13 scoring shots! A win here to the Bloods would put the Magpies out of the picture for 2012, but a loss would boost the Pies to an outside chance of making the five.

That seemed motivational enough as it were, the Magpies went ballistic in the opening stanza to score an inaccurate 7.9 to West's comparatively lowly 2.3 to take a six-goal lead at quarter-time. The inaccuracy bug changed camps in the second term, the Bloods kicking 3.5 to Port's two goals to reduce the gap to 25 points by the long break. To be fair to the Bloods' efforts, several of their frontline players were either rested or injured and coach Andrew Collins is probably thinking more about the Qualifying Final in two weeks more than anything else. The Magpies got back on track in the second half, in the third term they would add a further 4.2 to West's two goals to stretch their advantage back out to 39 points going into the final change. The Magpies would run away with it in the end, another 4.2 run to the Bloods' 3.2 would see the home side take a 45-point win. With their superior percentage, Port could snatch fifth spot if they finish the minor round with a win and other results fall their way.

Justin Hoskin was named best for the Magpies, the Bloods would vote in Brad Crouch as their best.