Port finishes full of running to beat Fremantle and return to top spot
PORT Adelaide's now famous last-quarter run has seen the Power grab top spot on the ladder with an 18-point win over Fremantle at Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Wingard kept the Power in the contest with his uncanny goal-kicking before the home side steamrolled Fremantle with five goals to two in the final term.
A goal to Matt White in the first two minutes of the final quarter wrested back the lead for the Power for the first time since early in the second term.
In that second quarter the Dockers kicked five goals to two, giving them a 10-point lead at the main break after trailing by seven points at quarter-time.
White's second for the final term, after a string of Port behinds, stretched the margin to 10 points, and that goal was followed quickly by another to defender Jasper Pittard.
When Wingard kicked his fifth half way through the last quarter, the match was effectively over.
Dockers coach Ross Lyon tipped his hat to the Power's ability to secure the game when it was there for the taking, but lamented his side's missed opportunities.
"I thought we clawed it back pretty well, even had some opportunities late that we muffed to be frank," Lyon said.
"Fluctuating fortunes, there were times they were in control, [times] when we were in control but the bottom line is this, when the last quarter of the game was up for grabs they dominated ground ball and it was 10 [forward 50] entries to one."
The third term had been a seesawing battle, with the Power managing four goals – three of them to Wingard - to Fremantle's three.
Port midfielders Ollie Wines (27 disposals), Robbie Gray (30 touches), Travis Boak (29 possessions) and backman Jasper Pittard were prominent.
Fremantle goalsneak Matt De Boer booted three goals, all in the first half - a return matched by versatile Zac Clarke.
And Freo onballers Nat Fyfe (34 disposals, two goals), David Mundy (31 possessions) and Lachie Neale (28 touches) were influential.
But the Dockers lost Stephen Hill to a left knee injury, the playmaker substituted early in the third quarter as his injury-troubled season continued.
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley took a trademark measured approach to his side's superb 7-1 start to the year, saying the Power had been "solid".
"We've played good footy, there's no doubt we've played strong footy right through," Hinkley said.
"No coach would sit here and tell you we've played perfect footy, we've played enough solid football that we are where we are and we deserve that right now."
Michael Johnson and Justin Westhoff do battle for the ball. Picture: AFL Media
PORT ADELAIDE 2.4 4.8 8.10 13.16 (94)
FREMANTLE 1.3 6.6 9.9 11.10 (76)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Wingard 5, Mitchell, White 2, Schulz, Wines, Young, Pittard
Fremantle: Clarke 3, Suban, Fyfe 2, de Boer, Pavlich, Hill, Mayne
BEST
Port Adelaide: Wingard, Ebert, Wines, Mitchell, Gray, Trengove
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