Australian Football

Match Report

Now for the Saturday afternoon timeslot, the first of the three scheduled matches takes us to Alberton Oval as the Magpies faced the Bulldogs. Last year's victories were shared, the away team taking the points in 2016. In Round 5, the Dogs took a five-goal win at Alberton, while in Round 14 the Magpies swooped in and left with a 39-point victory. The Bulldogs have not been able to rise above since their victory against Adelaide, they crashed to the Panthers at home while the Magpies -- with a full AFL-listed side -- went down to the flag favourites in the Eagles at Alberton. 

As has been the case for most of the year bar last week, the Dogs were very good early on, able to match the Magpies efforts in the first quarter to lead by two points at quarter-time, they kicked 5.3 to 5.1. The arm-wrestle continued in the second term with the lead cut to a single point by the long break, the inaccuracy bug affecting both camps with the 'Pies scoring 2.4 to 2.3. But the habits of the Bulldogs in the season thus far would bite after the break, although inaccurate the Magpies still kept the Dogs to one goal and scored 5.7 to take over control of the game and lead by five goals at the final change. The Centrals faithful have plenty to be frustrated about, their early match intensity going straight down the drain after half-time as the Magpies ran off to a 39-point win after kicking a further 5.4 to 4.1 in the last quarter. 

Cam Hewett was named best for Port, the Dogs named Nick Holman as their best.