Power's Out: Crows Win First Ever Thursday Night Showdown
Adelaide's season is back on track after defeating a wasteful Port Adelaide in Showdown 55. The final margin was 30 points, a scoreboard of 12.6.78 to 5.18.48.
Jake Soligo (27 disposals and 10 tackles) and Matt Crouch (28 disposals and six clearances) stood tall in the win.
For Port meanwhile, Miles Bergman (20 disposals and 587 metres gained), Zak Butters (33 disposals), and Ollie Wines (22 disposals and five clearances) were gallant in defeat.
Adelaide had the fast start; Darcy Fogarty slotted the first two goals. Port were leading the inside 50s six to two, but could offer little in the way of scoring, trailing 2.0.12 to 0.0.1.
The ninth minute saw the crowd applaud Rory Sloane. After 255 games, he decided that the time had come for him to retire. Sloane bowed out as a true champion, and the Crows fans showed their appreciation.
Charlie Dixon's first came at a pivotal time, the goal giving Port a 3.0.18 to 1.1.7 deficient.
Adelaide's 23 point lead at the 22nd minute mark offered a massive opportunity for the Crows to launch to an impressive victory, after goals to McHenry and Cook.
However Port would fight back. It was Jason Horne-Francis who drilled a ball inside forward 50 for Willie Rioli.
His kick was true and Port got a desperately needed goal on the board. Port weren't finished yet, and Todd Marshall's 50 metre drop punt goal saw a 23 point margin quickly drop to eight.
Port led clearances and inside 50s heading into quarter time. The Power probably deserved to be in front, however they trailed, 5.0.30 to 3.4.22, Adelaide's efficiency keeping them ahead.
Despite the fast finish of the first quarter, it was Adelaide who found the first major of the second. Rankine's mark and subsequent goal at the nine minute mark saw the lead stretch to 13 points.
Lachlan Sholl's first goal opened up a 17 point lead, bending the ball from the pocket to the cheers of the Crows fans. Port's blunders at goal offering Adelaide a chance, the scoreboard read 7.0.42 plays 3.7.25.
Adelaide's efficiency was well and truly turning the Power off at half time. The margin 19 points, 7.2.44 to 3.7.25.
The third quarter began with controversy. Taylor Walker kicked a goal from 50 on the tightest of angles. It looked like Zerk-Thatcher had taken a mark on the line, to save the day. However, it was judged a goal, and Adelaide had first blood in the second half.
Rankine's second goal was out of this world. The former Sun was trapped against the boundary line, before he delivered the checkside kick against the outside of his foot that floated through the goals, the 31 point margin putting pressure on the Power.
Horne-Francis' goal in the dying moments of the quarter gave Port a chance. It was Port's first goal since the 32nd minute of the first quarter and closed the gap to 23 points. 9.4.58 to 4.11.35.
It was a case of one to end the third and one to start the fourth for Jason Horne-Francis to bring the margin back to 18 points.
However, Rachele's first at the 19th minute mark of the last quarter was the sealer.
Sholl was running into the open goal, but he did the unselfish thing, and Rachele's name entered the major column as Adelaide got their 10th of the evening.
Keays would add the 11th and with a minute to go Rankine would steam in for number 12.
Adelaide would record Showdown win 28. The 12.6.78 to 5.18.48 win saw the Crows move to 3-5, while Port slipped to 4-4 on the AFL ladder. Jake Soligo won the showdown medal for his best on ground performance.
On the injury front, Connor Rozee's hamstring looked to have been reaggravated, after he originally injured it against the Saints in the week previous. He spend a large majority of the third quarter off the ground, but did come back on. He was subbed out for Jackson Mead.
There were also new injuries with Todd Marshall and Mitch Georgiades coming out of the game for the Power.
Adelaide: 5.0 7.2 9.4 6.8.44
Port Power: 3.4 3.7 4.11 11.16.82
Goalkickers:
Adelaide: Rankine (3), Fogarty (2), Walker (2), Cook, Keays, McHenry, Sholl
Port: Horne-Francis (2), Dixon, Marshall, Rioli
Best:
Adelaide: Crouch, Rankine, Soligo, Walker
Port: Bergman, Butters, Horne-Francis, Wines