10-All! Crows Fly, Magpies Grounded in SANFL Showdown
In the SANFL Showdown, the fast-starting Crows never gave the Magpies a chance. It was Gollant with five goals who started off the attack; Harry Schoenberg (27 disposals and a goal) and Billy Dowling (26 disposals and 8 clearances), were helping hands. Port had players that stood up: Josh Sinn, (29 disposals and 9 tackles), Cody Szust (31 disposals and 6 clearances), and Nick Moore (21 disposals and 20 tackles) could hold their heads high.
The game started with goals through Edwards, Gollant and Strachan inside the first eight minutes. Adelaide had cruise control on and never looked like losing.
The Crows had more of the football and made it count. Gollant’s third for the first quarter sent alarm bells ringing in the Port Adelaide coaches box; the scoreboard was quickly becoming a worry.
Jeremy Finlayson’s goal finally offered some hope for the Magpies. The ball snapped around the corner to put Port’s first on the board, the margin at 5.2.32 to 1.4.10.
Gollant’s fourth goal directly after Quarter Time hurt the Magpies again, as the Crows’ continued dominance took the game away.
Burgess became the second multiple goalkicker for the Crows, his second drawing a 8.2.50 to 1.5.11 scoreline. The Crows’ disposal efficiency hurt Port, as they cut their way through the defensive lines.
Adelaide’s entry into the forward 50 had made life very easy for their forwards. Port’s, on the other hand, allowed the Crows defenders to take intercept marks.
Finalyson’s second goal was much needed for the Magpies, before the Crows’ eleventh and Burgess’ third had the margin at an even 50 points.
Finlayson was running the forward line on his own, the margin cut back to 44 with his third, but the scoreboard was still not looking brilliant for Port, 11.4.70 to 3.8.26.
The Crows couldn’t be stopped at the Adelaide Oval. After fast hands from Berry and Burgess, Smithson ran into an open goal as the Crows picked up where they left off to start the third.
The third quarter continued much the same as the first two. Goals to O’Leary and Boyle continued to hurt the Magpies, before Visentini’s set shot 40 meters out finally gave Port its second goal kicker, the margin at 58 points. 14.6.90 played 4.8.32.
Scully’s snap gave the Magpies two goals in a row, but as the game entered the last break it looked all too much, the margin at 52 points and Adelaide’s dominance clear, having heavily won contests all over the field.
Smithson’s second at the seven minute mark saw the Crows open up the majors in the last. The margin out over 10 goals, Port were not able to offer anything to quell the Adelaide storm.
Lachie Charleston’s two final quarter goals were able to push Port over the 50 point barrier. The Magpies having moments, but they were fleeting. The margin at 46 points.
Gallagher’s first saw the Crows raise the bat for 100 points, and Finlayson’s fourth was another smooth finish, the ball bouncing through the goals. For Port, it was all too little, too late.
The final score of 16.7.103 to 8.14.62 would see the Crows tie the SANFL ledger at 10 wins each in the Showdown. The 41 point margin would leave Port sitting 0-5 on the ladder, while the Crows moved to 2-3.
Adelaide: 6.2 11.4 14.6 16.7.103
Port: 1.4 3.8 5.8 8.14.82
Goalkickers:
Adelaide: Gollant, (5), Burgess, (3), Smithson, (2), Boyle, Edwards, Gallagher, O’Leary, Schoenberg, Strachan
Port: Finlayson, (4), Charleston, (2), Scully, Visentini
Best:
Adelaide: Burgess, Dowling, Gollant, Schoenberg,
Port: Finlayson, Moore, Sinn, Szust,