MORE: Jake King says Tigers must harden up
Port Adelaide has booked a semi-final encounter with Fremantle after an awesome 57–point thrashing of Richmond in Sunday's elimination final at Adelaide Oval.
The wheels fell off Richmond's September bandwagon in the most dramatic fashion as the Tigers conceded the first seven goals of the game and 13 for the opening half.
In front of a deafening home crowd, the Power played inspired football from start to finish, and the hosts had the match in the bag inside 20 minutes.
Angus Monfries celebrates a goal in the first half. Photo: Morne de Klerk (Getty)
They led by 42 points at quarter-time, and Port Adelaide’s 69-point halftime lead was the third largest by any side in a final in history.
It was the sort of form that thrusts them into serious flag contention, with a semi-final against the Dockers in Perth awaiting Ken Hinkley's charges next Saturday at 5.45pm (WA time).
Jake Neade kicked three goals and seven others kicked two goals each for the winners - a helpless Jack Riewoldt led the way with three goals for the Tigers.
Tigers fans had a miserable day at a Punt Rd Oval livesite. Photo: Getty
Many pundits predicted an even contest. But the two sides were like chalk and cheese.
Port Adelaide's tackling pressure was relentless - Ken Hinkley's men were in the Tigers' face at almost every contest.
On the other hand, the Tigers were a spent force.
Retired Richmond hardman Jake King said the Tigers lacked finals physicality.
"I haven't seen one Port Adelaide player get sat on their backside. In the finals, you have to try to bruise as many opposition players as you can and the Tigers haven't done that. Dimma would be going off," King said at half-time of the SEN commentary.
Adding to the humiliation, Richmond captain Trent Cotchin won the toss and elected to kick into the wind in the opening term.
MORE: Chad Wingard defends Trent Cotchin's coin toss blunder
Port Adelaide continued its demolition job in the second half, although Richmond did manage three consecutive goals when the sting had gone out of the match in the final term.
Indeed, the Tigers managed to win the final quarter, kicking five goals to one to dodge the possibility of a 100-point hiding.
There was also some blood spilt, with Port speedster Matt White taken to hospital with a suspected broken jaw.
Power enforcer Hamish Hartlett is also in doubt for next week after hurting his hamstring.
For Richmond, and the club's legion of travelling fans, it was a bitterly disappointing end to a season where the Tigers emerged to from the doldrums, winning nine games in a row to sneak into the top eight.
PORT ADELAIDE 8.1 14.5 19.8 20.12 (132)
RICHMOND 1.1 3.2 6.5 11.9 (75)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Neade 3, Westhoff 2, Schulz 2, Polec 2, Wingard 2, Monfries 2, Wines 2, Ebert 2, Boak, White, Gray
Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Gordon 2, Conca, Maric, Grigg, Deledio, Griffiths, Edwards
BEST
Port Adelaide: Boak, Westhoff, Neade, Carlile, Gray, Wingard
Richmond: Cotchin, Miles, Deledio, Morris
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: White (jaw), Hartlett (hamstring)
Richmond: Foley (nose)
SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Matt White (jaw) subbed out for Andrew Moore in the second quarter
Richmond: Jake Batchelor subbed out for Ricky Petterd in the third quarter
Port Adelaide hands Richmond finals pasting
