Australian Football

Match Report

The last of the day-lit matches took place further out in the western suburbs, the Magpies squaring off against the Crows in the "mini-Showdown" at the Alberton Oval. It was back in Round 4 that these teams last met, but not in the country surrounds that the Crows-hosted games usually have. It was at the Eagles' nest in Woodville where the Magpies inflicted a 35-point loss on the Crows, who were having a little bit of a dry period with losses to Centrals and the Eagles on either side. Both sides were defeated last week, but it was Port with the most to prove being higher on the ladder. 

Early on, the Magpies were having a devil of a time in front of goal, the Crows leading by two points after kicking 3.2 to Port's 2.6. The Magpies overturned that deficit by half-time though, keeping the Crows to 1.2 and scoring 4.2 for themselves to lead by 16 points come half-time, that last Port goal coming from long-range just before the siren blew. The Power are sure to have several Magpies spoiling for a senior spot given the various contributors and they continued to add to their lead once play resumed. The Crows couldn't quite go goal for goal, they scored 3.1 to Port's 4.1 as the deficit grew to 22 points by three quarter-time. The Magpies' final term efforts drove the nail well and truly home, ramming through 7.1 to a lowly 1.1 to win by 58 points and take a 5-3 lead in the SANFL showdowns. 

Aaron Young was a force to be reckoned with and was bestowed with best on ground votes for Port, the Crows named top-pick Jordan Gallucci as their best.