Australian Football

Match Report

The GWS Giants have taken a big step towards securing a place in the top four with an impressive come-from-behind victory over Port Adelaide at a wet Adelaide Oval in Sunday's twilight match. The Power adapted the better to the slippery conditions in the first half and looked to have the Giants covered when they led by 20 points at the long break but an impressive third term from GWS saw the Giants lead by a goal at three-quarter time and finish strongly to run out winners by 19 points in a low-scoring affair.

With rain tumbling down from the beginning of the match, goals proved hard to come by in the first quarter. The Giants' early forays forward yielded a rushed behind and a point to Steve Johnson in the first three minutes, but they would not trouble the scorers again in the term. Port gradually took control in general play and, although shots at goal were few and far between, the Power managed to kick 2.2 for the quarter, a goal each to Robbie Gray and Brad Ebert, to lead by 12 points at the first break. 

An early second-term goal to Chad Wingard extended Port's lead to three goals but a reply from Toby Greene seven minutes later had GWS back within 13 points after 10 minutes. The Giants then squandered three chances to further cut the margin, with Sam Reid, Callan Ward and Adam Kennedy all missing. Ebert made them pay with his second goal at the 17-minute mark, but Jeremy Cameron's first major had the Giants back within eight points at the 26-minute mark. However, two late goals from Gray and Ebert saw the Power go into half time with a 20-point break and all the momentum. 

The long break brought with it a change of fortune. The first nine minutes produced only a solitary behind, to GWS's Devon Smith but when Tom Scully goaled for the Giants at the 10-miunute mark, it sparked a run of majors that would change the complexion of the match. Over the next five minutes, Reid and Jonathon Patton added further goals, and when Stephen Coniglio kicked his first at the 18-minute mark, the Giants were ahead by a goal. Robbie Gray levelled the scores with his third goal, but a very late goal to Smith had GWS ahead by that margin at the last break. 

GWS took its third-quarter form into the last term, and goals to Dylan Shiel and Cameron inside the first five minutes had the Giants out to an 18-point lead and heading for victory. With rain falling again defences ruled for the next 10 minutes before Ebert's fourth goal had the Power back within two goals and in with a chance. Port needed a follow-up goal but its was GWS that kicked the next major barely more than a minute major and Dylan Shiel sealed the deal with his second goal at the 27-minute mark, a last-minute major from Jay Schulz nothing more than a consolation prize for Port as GWS held on to win and all but snuff out the Power's finals chances. 

Shane Mumford played a pivotal role in the win, with 49 hitouts and 10 tackles, but limped off late in the match. The Giants will be hoping his injury is only slight and that he'll be available next week. Travis Boak (34 disposals, six tackles) was a fine four-quarter contributor for the Power.

The Giants are now in second place and will look to consolidate that spot with a win over Richmond in Canberra next Saturday. Port will take on Brisbane at the Gabba, with a win an absolute must if it is to keep its September chances alive. 

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Ebert 4; R.Gray 3; Wingard
GWS: Cameron, Smith 2; Shiel, Scully, Reid, Patton, Coniglio, Greene

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Port Adelaide: Ebert, R.Gray, Pittard, Boak
GWS: Scully, Shaw, Mumford, Coniglio, Shiel, Kelly, Cameron, Haynes

BEST - THE AGE
Port Adelaide: Boak, Ebert, Clurey, Wines, R. Gray, Trengove
GWS: Mumford, Haynes, Kelly, Coniglio, Shiel, Shaw

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
GWS: Mumford (right knee)

UMPIRES: Finlay, Mitchell, Meredith

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Dwayne Russell, Gerard Healy, Mark Ricciuto, Ben Dixon