Australian Football

Match Report

For the final match of the weekend, out to the portside suburb of Alberton for the match between the Double Blues and the Magpies. The Double Blues have had the better of the Magpies in most recent times, their last encounter yielded a 22-point win back in Round 15 and their fourth on the trot. Port's last victory came in late 2011, a five-match winning streak culminated in a 24-point win at Adelaide Oval and then the Blues-rot set in. This time around, the Blues would field a much younger line-up than normal as coach Seamus Maloney decided on finishing the year with newer blood in prep for the Crows exodus.

They were on the front foot early on, although inaccurate they would finish the opening term with a 20-point lead after scoring 4.5 to 1.3. Port would answer back in the second term, but like Sturt in the first quarter, inaccuracy dogged their charge as they kicked 5.6 to 3.2 to reduce the gap to four points by the half-time break. The rest of the match would be an arm-wrestle, the third quarter saw the Blues manage 4.3 to the Magpies' 3.2, the three quarter-time deficit would be 11 points with Sturt still in front. The Blues' inaccuracy almost brought them undone in the final term, but their defence would hold off the Magpies long enough to ensure victory. Sturt's 1.4 to Port's 2.2 would see the home side hold on for a seven-point win.

Sturt named Ben Kane as their best on ground, while Port voted in Kory Beard as their standout.