PORT Adelaide has kept their final hopes alive with a disciplined 38 point win over the Tigers at Glenelg on Saturday.
Port entered the game one point behind South Adelaide for the final spot in the five - but losses to both West Adelaide and South Adelaide saw Port become the caretaker in fifth place.
After surviving blustery first quarter conditions, which weren’t helped by poor kicking, Port turned the ship around with a blistering 6.3 to 1.2. second quarter.
Veteran forward Matthew Lokan was unbelievably efficient in the second quarter entering half time with only 5 possessions but having 3.1 and a goal assist to his name.
Glenelg struggled at times with the physicality of the more experienced Magpies line up, despite leading the tackle count 54-53.
The Magpies were regularly first to the contest and looked far more confident working the ball off of half back.
Despite some impressive play from Glenelg youngster, Ben Kennedy and Ruory Kirkby causing early problems, Port Adelaide was too strong across the ground.
Glenelg was briefly inspired by some individual magic from Alex Grima and the game opened up in the second half as the teams went goal for goal.
Unfortunately, the Tigers couldn’t keep up.
The Port Adelaide talls, led by Ivan Maric were too much for lone Bays’ big man Trevor Cranston as third-gamer Judd Hobson and captain James Meiklejohn were equally damaging.
Things started to go Port’s way when a shanked shot at goal from 50 by Mark Dolling dropped into the hands of forward Terry Milera in the square.
Not 30 seconds later, Luke Harder barnstormed through the centre of the ground taking a couple of bounces before unloading a huge goal from outside 50 to stretch the lead to 5 goals.
Steven Summerton was excellent again leading the team with 22 possessions including 8 clearances and 7 inside 50s.
Up forward Matthew Lokan’s stellar effort was outshone by goal sneak Terry Milera who bagged 4 second half goals, including two final quarter majors to put the result beyond doubt.
Port Adelaide stretched the lead out to 7 goals just minutes into the final quarter but 2 goals in 2 minutes by the Tigers meant that the match wasn’t quite over.
Terry Milera kicked his fifth goal after a free kick was paid down field with five minutes to go, which opened up a 52 point lead - the biggest for the match.
Luke Slattery, Shayne Biacsi and Jeremy Clayton were super effective off of half back and Port moved the ball through the centre of the ground with discipline.
The Magpies’ relentless pressure was the signs of a team hungry to play finals footy.
Port Adelaide faces the Eagles next week at Alberton and can guarantee finals action with a victory.
Magpies 2.2 8.5 13.10 18.15 (106)
Panthers 4.5 5.7 8.10 12.13 (76)
Goals:
Magpies: Milera 5, Lokan 4, Harder, Slattery 2, Biacsi, Gray, Maric, Robson, Summerton
Panthers: Kirk 4, Kirkby 3, Grima, Kennedy, Murdoch, Neale, Snook
Best:
Magpies: Milera, Slattery, Maric, Summerton, Gray, Lokan, Biacsi, Clayton
Panthers: Kennedy, Kirkby, Kirk, Neale
