Australian Football

Match Report

Sydney has held off a persistent Port Adelaide side to defeat the Power by 10 points at the SCG on Thursday night. The win consolidates the Swans place in the top four, while leaving Port two games adrift of the top eight with a 5-8 win-loss record. Sydney led for most of the night but the Power were never far away, hitting back every time the Swans threatened to draw clear. In the end a four-goal burst from Sydney in the time-on period of the third term proved ti be pivotal in the Swans' victory. 

Adam Goodes gave the Swans the perfect start, with a goal from 20 metres out from a free kick at the two-minute mark, but Chad Wingard answered for the Power three minutes later. Sam Reid put Sydney back in front with a mark and goal at the seven-minute mark before Justin Westhoff also marked three minutes later and kicked his first major to level the score. A brace of goals to Josh Kennedy put the Swans two goals ahead but majors to Nathan Krakouer and Westhoff during time-on saw the sides all square at 4.1 apiece at the first change. 

The first 18 minutes of the second quarter was dominated by Sydney. Goals to Reid, debutant Toby Nankervis and Reid again saw the Swans jump 18 points clear, before Brendon Ah Chee pulled one back for the Power at the 19-minute mark. A goal to Luke Parker saw the Sydney lead back out to 17 points but Wingard's second major saw Port Adelaide back within 11 points at the long break. 

Port Adelaide began the third quarter full of running, and goals to Krakouer and Wingard saw the Power take a one-point lead at the six-minute mark. They held on to that until the time-on period, during which the Swans broke free with a crucial four-goal burst. Kieran Jack kicked the burst off with a snap from 15 metres out, and then follow-up majors to Goodes, Dan Hannebery and Goodes again saw Sydney go into the last break with a 14-point lead and apparent control of the match. 

After a couple of early last-term behinds to Sydney, the Power pushed hard to get back into the match. Hamish Hartlett goaled to cut the margin to three goals at the nine-minute mark and when Robbie Gray added another three minutes later, the difference was just 12 points. Matthew Broadbent had a chance to cut it back to six but his shot at the 14-minute mark sailed wide, after which Lewis Jetta goaled to give the Swans some breathing space. Port captain Travis Boak again reduced the difference to 11 with a goal early in time-on but Harry Cunningham responded with a major for the Swans to virtually settle the score. Jay Schulz kicked a late one for Port but it was too little, too late and Sydney held on to sneak home by 11 points.

Kennedy was outstanding for the Swans, with 33 disposals and eight tackles, while Hannebery (34 possessions, eight marks) and Goodes (three goals, six tackles), also played pivotal roles in the win. For Port, Gray (32 touches and six tackles), Westhoff (eight marks, 22 disposals) and Wingard (15 possessions and three goals) all had fine games. 

Sydney will face Brisbane at the Gabba next Sunday, while Port will host fifth-placed Collingwood at the Adelaide Oval on Friday night. 

GOALS
Sydney: Reid, Goodes 3; Kennedy 2; Parker, Nankervis, Jetta, Jack, Hannebery, Cunningham
Port Adelaide: Wingard 3; Westhoff, Krakouer 2; Hartlett, Gray, Boak, Ah Chee, Schulz 

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Sydney: Kennedy, Goodes, Reid, Jack, Mitchell, Hannebery, Parker
Port Adelaide: Gray, Wingard, Westhoff, Hartlett, Hombsch, Krakouer

BEST - SMH.COM.AU
Sydney: Kennedy, Hannebery, Goodes, Lloyd, Reid, Jack
Port Adelaide: Gray, Westhoff, Wines, Wingard, Pittard, Krakouer

INJURIES
Sydney: Rohan (hamstring), Richards (head)
Port Adelaide: Jackson Trengove (flu) replaced in the selected side by Paul Stewart

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Gary Rohan replaced by Harry Cunningham in the second quarter
Port Adelaide: Alipate Carlile replaced by Andrew Moore at three-quarter time 

UMPIRES: Stevic, Ryan, Pannell

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Brian Taylor, Hamish McLachlan, Matthew Richardson, Jude Bolton