Australian Football

Match Report

The last match takes us far, far away from the city and into the Riverland region and the original stomping ground of Russell Ebert of Loxton Oval, where the Bloods would take on the Magpies. These sides shared the points from their two games in 2022, with the Bloods emerging victorious in the later season game which was moved to Richmond while Alberton was being used in Port Adelaide's AFL-W side's debut game. West would claim a 27-point victory in Round 15 after leading at every change and on the back of a five goal to two opening quarter. But in last year's outing to the Riverland in Round 7, the Magpies ran out four-goal winners. The Bloods came close to causing a major upset after cutting a 34-point half-time deficit in half, but the Magpies kept them at arm's length to assure victory in the now annual tribute match to the late AFL Hall of Famer. In last week's games, Westies were triumphant against the Panthers by 22 points, while the Magpies were given the Blues at Unley with a 38-point defeat. The Bloods were surely not going to fall back on their old habits today after such a strong showing last week against an underperforming Port outfit, right? The first half of football that the red & black served up would suggest otherwise. They would kick just one goal in the opening quarter while the Magpies booted 5.3, four of those goals unanswered to open up a 27-point lead at quarter-time. Inaccuracy on goal from the Bloods saw them add just four behinds to their score, the Magpies were having similar issues but also increased their goal tally. Port's 3.5 would take their lead out to 46 points by the half-time break. Both sides came out different teams after the long break, Westies trying madly to repair the damage. They would succeed in part as the Magpies attack was throttled back, the Bloods kicking 5.4 to the Magpies' 1.3 as the gap was reeled back to 21 points come three quarter-time. A four-kick deficit was definitely not out of reach for this Bloods side, but a more determined Port defence would see them home in the end. Despite being outscored, the Maggies would leave Loxton with a 17-point win and first points in the bank after scoring 3.2 to four goals in the final term. Trent Dumont was best for the Magpies, with 20 disposals, 10 marks and eight tackles. The Bloods would name Callum Park as their best afield with 33 disposals and 11 marks.