Australian Football

Match Report

We head over to the City Mazda Stadium in Richmond as the Bloods played host to the Magpies. We have to go back to Round 19 last year for the last match between these teams, Westies inflicting a 43-point beating. 

The Bloods looked like they would do it again as they started the nights proceedings with a 7.3 to 2.2 first quarter, setting up a 31-point lead at the first change. That lead would be stretched to 41 points by the long break after the Bloods added a further 3.2 to their score, while the Magpies could only manage an inaccurate 1.4 in the second term. But when the match resumed for the second half, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the Bloods were in the belief that they had it in the bag. Instead of keeping up their attack, the Magpies closed the gap to 26 points after outscoring West 4.1 to 1.4 in the third quarter. The visitors could have stolen it, but the home side held on tightly to its lead in the end. Port's 4.2 to 2.1 would not be enough to deny West victory, 13 points being the final deficit. 

Ryan Ferguson led by example and was named best for the Bloods, while usual suspect Jeremy Clayton was voted best on ground for Port.