PORT Adelaide has recorded the biggest win of the inaugural Foxtel Cup, with a commanding 92-point victory over the East Coast Eagles at the SCG.
The curtain-raiser to the AFL clash between the Sydney Swans and Port Adelaide was a largely one-sided affair, with East Coast - back-to-back premiers in the AFL Sydney competition - managing just two goals against their vastly more experienced SANFL opponents. Port set up the win with ten goals in the second half, to finish at 16.11 (107) to 2.3 (15).
The Magpies had winners all over the ground, headed by James Meiklejohn with 17 possessions, 11 hit-outs and a game-high four goals. Adelaide ruckman Ivan Maric added three goals, while Zane Kirkwood, Jordan Erskine and the Power’s Mitch Banner and Jacob Surjan controlled the midfield.
Steve O'Connor led the overmatched Eagles with 14 kicks and his side’s only two goals, while captain Jon Vlatko battled manfully for 16 possessions.
The game started in inauspicious fashion, as both sides struggled to get any rhythm to their play. It was the class of Port Adelaide's AFL-listed players that eventually came to the fore - Surjan slotted two intelligent goals, while Maric also converted after a towering mark.
Meanwhile, the Eagles struggled to find a target in the forward line, and only troubled the scorers with a behind in the quarter’s final seconds.
Port Adelaide stretched their lead with two quick goals early in the second term, via Justin Hoskin and Luke Harder, before the Eagles lifted their intensity and evened up the match in general play. The lively O’Connor kicked East Coast’s first goal, but it was their only major for the half as skill errors routinely halted their forward forays.
Maric kicked his second goal just prior to half time, and then added a third to start the second half. Meiklejohn, who played six AFL games for Sydney in 2003 and 2004, booted three for the term, each coming from strong contested marks as East Coast struggled to match Port’s tall forwards.
O'Connor added his second for the Eagles, but it did little to slow Port’s momentum; exciting youngster John Butcher kicked his first to help the Magpies to an eleven-goal advantage at the final break.
Port Adelaide cruised home in a final quarter highlighted by a quality goal on the run to Kirkwood, and an intelligent finish out of midair by Butcher. The Magpies now progress to the second stage of the knock-out Foxtel Cup format, where they will face the winner of next weekend’s game between North Adelaide and Labrador.
East Coast Eagles 0.1 1.2 2.2 2.3 (15)
Port Adelaide Magpies 3.5 6.7 12.8 16.11 (107)
GOALS
East Coast Eagles: O'Connor 2
Port Adelaide Magpies: Meiklejohn 4, Maric 3, Butcher 2, Surjan 2, Kulikowski, Gray, Harder, Hoskin, Kirkwood
BEST
East Coast Eagles: O’Connor, Vlatko, Baker
Port Adelaide Magpies: Meiklejohn, Kirkwood, Maric, Surjan, Erskine, Banner
INJURIES
East Coast Eagles: Nil
Port Adelaide Magpies: Nil
