Australian Football

Match Report

AFL footy travelled to China on Sunday with the Gold Coast Suns hosting Port Adelaide at Jiangwan Sports Stadium in Shanghai in the first match to be played for premiership points in the northern hemisphere. Unfortunately - except for Port fans - the match was a fizzer, wth the Power overcoming a slow start to take control of the match from midway through the first quarter to record a convincing 72-point win.

Chinese fans might have been wondering what all the fuss about footy was in the early stages of the match, with almost six minutes passing before a score was recorded. Even then, that was only a rushed behind to Port. The first goal of the match finally came when Michael Barlow kicked truly for the Suns, giving them a five-point lead. Charlie Dixon finally broke thorough for the Power at the 13-minute mark and it was pretty much one-way traffic in favour of the Power from that point on. Robbie Gray, Karl Amon and Jared Polec added further majors for Port, which took a 21-point buffer into quarter time.

The second term began as the first had five minutes passing before either side scored. A behind to the Suns' Tom Lynch broke the drought, but the first goal went to Port's Robbie Gray, extending the Power's lead to 26 points. Gold Coast had a period of control after that but Suns Touk Miller, Gary Ablett and Jarrod Harbrow all missed shots at goal and Travis Boak made them pay, kicking accurately for Port at the 13-minute mark. Jarman Impey followed up with another, and then Justin Westhoff made a claim for goal of the year with an incredible soccer goal from the boundary that put the Power 41 points clear. Each side added two further goals before the long break as the game opened up, and Port was well in command at half time, leading by 42.

The first 15 minutes of the third quarter was anything but inspiring, both sides trading nothing but minor scores until the Power's Callum Ah Chee finally broke through for a goal. Port added two more quick majors through Dixon and Ah Chee again but there was only one further goal for the quarter, which went to Sun Kade Kolodjashnij, and it was Port by 55 at the last turn.

Travis Boak gave the final term a more exciting start than the other three with a mark and goal inside the first minute. The gave the Power a 61-point lead and the result from there was academic. Port added further goals through Ah Chee and Sam Gray as the game petered out in terms of highlights, the final margin 72 points in favour of the Power.

Best for the winners Brad Ebert (31 possessions, four tackles) and skipper Boak (11 marks, 30 touches), while for the Suns, Aaron Hall (37 touches and eight handballs) and Harbrow (35 disposals, seven marks) were fine contributors.

Both Port, which has moved into the top four, and the Suns have a bye in round nine with the Power to play Geelong at Kardinia Park in two weeks and Gold Coast to play Melbourne in Darwin in round 10.

GOALS
Gold Coast: Barlow, Lyons, Kolodjashnij, Joyce
Port Adelaide: Ah Chee 3; R.Gray, Dixon, Impey, Boak 2; Amon, Polec, Westhoff, Trengove, S.Gray

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Gold Coast: Hall, Harbrow, Lyons, Saad
Port Adelaide: Ebert, Boak, Hombsch, Wingard, Jonas, Impey

BEST - THE AGE
Gold Coast: Harbrow, Hall, Martin, Lyon
Port Adelaide: Ebert, Boak, Hombsch, Broadbent, Jonas

INJURIES
Gold Coast: Rory Thompson (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Keegan Brooksby
Port Adelaide: Nil

UMPIRES: Brendan Hosking, Matt Nicholls, Sam Hay

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Bruce McAvaney, Hamish McLachlan, Leigh Matthews