Port Adelaide power to historic showdown win over Adelaide

Rory Sloane

PORT ADELAIDE: 5.4, 7.8, 12.11, 19.14 (128)
ADELAIDE: 1.1, 5.2, 8.15, 11.7, (73)  

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Wingard 4, Schulz 3, Gray, Wines, White 2, Lobbe, Ebert, Westhoff, Boak, Butcher, Hartlett
Adelaide: Betts 4, Grigg 2, Johnston, Douglas, Smith, Kerridge, Podsiadly

BEST
Port Adelaide: Hartlett, Cornes, Wingard, Schulz, Polec, Ebert
Adelaide: Betts, Smith, Jaensch, Sloane

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Polec (head laceration)
Adelaide: Nil

What Happened
A sell-out crowd of 50,397 people rocked up to the new Adelaide Oval on a simply stunning afternoon for footy. Those in the teal, would have been stoked with Port's early work as they leapt out of the blocks, establishing a 28-point lead by quarter-time as they dominated their fierce crosstown rivals.

But the Crows were far from done as Eddie Betts booted three of his four goals during the second term to reduce the margin down to three goals at half-time. A fourth goal from the ex-Carlton forward just after half-time gave Adelaide the early running and when Brodie Smith nailed a booming shot in the 13th minute, the Crows had snatched the lead.

But that merely woke the Power from their slumber as they returned fire with five unanswered goals in 14 minutes – two of them coming from a sizzling Chad Wingard - to hold a five-goal lead going into the last quarter. And, Port went on with the job booting seven goals in a thrilling final term for Power fans as they recorded their second straight win to start the new campaign.

Fallout:
Both sides seem to have escaped without too many injuries from this clash, although it was a close thing for a Port assistant who tapped Ken Hinkley on the shoulder during the match and almost received a backhander for his troubles. Also, for any trivia buffs out there; remember it was Matthew Lobbe who scored the first goal at the newly re-developed venue. That knowledge may come in handy!

Hope They're In My Fantasy Team:
Wingard and Betts were both eye catchers with four goals apiece but it was an ageing warrior in Kane Cornes who delivered the chocolates, picking up 33 possessions and five tackles to be a fantasy superstar in this match.

What's Next
Adelaide return to Adelaide Oval to face Sydney on Saturday while Port head to Etihad to take on North Melbourne next Sunday.

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