Australian Football

Match Report

Port Adelaide maintained its excellent form under new coach Ken Hinkley to record a thrilling two-point win over local rivals Adelaide in Showdown 34 on Sunday. The Power overcame a deficit of 31 points in the early stages of the third quarter to finish all over the Crows and record an inspirational nine-point victory.

Captain Travis Boak was brilliant for the Power, while Justin Westhoff had another huge game, kicking four goals. For Adelaide, Scott Thompson and Rory Sloane were excellent. While Taylor Walker played a serviceable game, kicking three goals, the Crows at times in the second half appeared to miss the presence of Kurt Tippett, who joined Sydney in the off-season.

Port Adelaide now lead Adelaide 18-16 in Showdowns and, more importantly, are second on the ladder with a 3-0 record. They face the Gold Coast at Carrara in round four. The Crows, who are now 1 and 2 will be home to the Western Bulldogs next Sunday.

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Westhoff 4; Boak, Wingard 3; Wines, Monfries 2; Broadbent, Neade, Schulz
Adelaide: Walker 3; Douglas, Sloane, Jenkins 2; Dangerfield, Henderson, Reilly, Otten, Petrenko, Porplyzia, Johncock

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Port Adelaide: Boak, Westhoff, Hartlett, Cornes, Wines, Wingard
Adelaide: Thompson, Sloane, Douglas, Dangerfield, Henderson, Walker

BEST - SPORTAL.COM.AU
Port Adelaide: Boak, Westhoff, Monfries, Wingard, Wines, Cornes, Hartlett, Broadbent
Adelaide: Sloane, Thompson, Douglas, Dangerfield, Walker, Wright

COACHES' COMMENTS
Ken Hinkley (Port): We had a really positive first half, except on the scoreboard. That can hurt you and it certainly was hurting us. Credit to the boys, when they got to half time, they knew they could keep coming, which hopefully says something about the club, that we want to be resilient.

Brenton Sanderson (Geel): 31 points up at the 10-minute mark of the third quarter - you shouldn't lose a game from that position. It felt like we got beaten inside the contest. They spread harder than us. Contested ball was a major issue for us. We gave away too many undisciplined free kicks and 50-metre penalties.

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
Adelaide: van Berlo (knee knock), Stewart (knee knock)

SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Kane Mitchell replaced Paul Stewart at half time
Adelaide: Bernie Vince replaced Nathan van Berlo in the third quarter

REPORTS
Port Adelaide: Nil
Adelaide: Bernie Vince for charging Chad Wingard in the fourth quarter

UMPIRES: Fleer, Schmitt, Hay