Port storms to 54-point win in first ever Showdown at Adelaide Oval
PORT Adelaide flattened arch-rivals Adelaide by 54 points to triumph in the first AFL match at a redeveloped Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
The Power, inspired by midfielders Hamish Hartlett and Brad Ebert, claimed a historic 19.13 (127) to 11.7 (73) victory.
Port forwards Jay Schulz and Chad Wingard each kicked three goals before a sell-out 50,397 crowd at the newly-completed stadium, which officially reopened after a $535 million redevelopment.
"I thought it was a strong performance, obviously, and in a big game – that was as important for us as it was for Adelaide ... it was our home game and we wanted to make sure we put on a good display," Hinkley said.
"Whether we won or not there was a key ingredient for us and that's effort and you've got to bring that every game, if you do that we give ourselves a chance.
"Our effort was there all through the game and there was that little momentum swing after half-time…but then I thought some really strong leadership stood up."
Adelaide recruit Eddie Betts potted four goals but the Power prevailed after withstanding a third-term challenge from their enemy.
Port had skipped to a 28-point break early in the second quarter, only for the Crows to fight back and take the lead when Brodie Smith goaled on the run 13 minutes into the third term.
Smith's blow sparked an emphatic Port reply: it kicked the next five goals in a 14-minute purple patch and led by 30 points at three-quarter time.
Port's victory was well-deserved after it dominated early: ruckman Matthew Lobbe became the answer to a trivia question when he kicked the first goal at the newly-completed oval just 76 seconds into the game.
Lobbe's blow set the tone for Port, whose big guns Justin Westhoff, Hartlett and Gray all fired to help create a 5.4 to 1.0 quarter-time lead.
But the Crows, despite a succession of basic skill blunders, clawed their way back into the contest thanks to their prized recruit Betts.
The ex-Carlton goalsneak scored three goals in the second term as Adelaide reduced the deficit to 18 points at half-time.
Betts added another in the third before Smith's long bomb gave the Crows the lead for the first time in the match.
But Port responded with aplomb, kicking 11 of the last 14 goals of the game.
Hartlett capped his outstanding game with a goal early in the last term, which sealed consecutive victories for the Power this season, while Adelaide remains winless.