Australian Football

Match Report

The Channel Seven cameras would be headed to Unley for the only Saturday match of the first weekend of the split round, the Double Blues hosting the Magpies at Envestra Park. The last time these sides met, the Magpies ended a five-match losing streak against the Blues after taking a 50-point win in Round 6 at Alberton. Ironically, the Blues' five-match run came after their own five match losing streak at the hands of the Magpies, which ran from Round 9 in 2010 through to late 2011. The Magpies were finally given something to think about just a week earlier, going down to a tenacious Bloods side at Richmond. If there was any opportunity for the Blues to really challenge for top spot, this was it, but while the weather conditions weren't as bad as what they were at The Parade the night before, it was still rather windy and wet.

Early on, the Magpies' forwards were making a meal of their opportunities on goal, kicking 2.6 to the Blues' 3.2. At quarter-time, Sturt were ahead by two points. Port's inaccuracy caught onto the Blues camp for the second term, they butchered several shots of their own as the Magpies overturned that quarter-time gap for themselves after kicking 2.3 to 1.5. At the long break, Port were up by two points. The Magpies' third quarter would prove to be the difference maker as the Blues continued to struggle in front of goal, while the home side added 3.4 the Maggies would boot 5.1 to extend the gap to 11 points. The final term saw the Blues make several forays into their forward line, but their effectiveness was lacking as they scored 1.4 while the Magpies made it a sure thing with their 3.1 to win by 20 points.

Port named Aaron Young as their best on ground, while Sturt voted in Zane Kirkwood as their best.