Season Over for Richmond as Power Advance
After leading by as much as 15 points early in the second, Port Adelaide had slipped up in the third. Five minutes into the quarter, the Power had no momentum and had coughed up the lead to a determined Tigers.
However, the Power would rally. Through the dominance of returning star Abbey Dowrick in the middle, and the presence of Ash Saint up forward, the Power would kick three unanswered goals to end the quarter. They went into three-quarter-time with a 19-point advantage, before running out 24-point winners, 11.6.72 to 7.6.48.
It was Gemma Houghton who finished off against the Giants last week. Today, she started the goal scoring against the Tigers.
As quarter-time drew nearer, it was the Tigers’ experience that gave them a foothold in the contest. Katie Brennan was able to send the footy spinning around the corner and through the big sticks.
During the second quarter, both teams kicked two goals.
Richmond was able to complete a 12-point play on the back of Houghton’s missed shot midway through the second term. Unsurprisingly, Mon Conti was involved. The Tiger superstar was released with a brilliant kick out of defensive 50.
Conti then paddled the ball up to herself, before sprinting away and placing the ball out in front of Emelia Yassir, who collected, straightened up, and goaled.
Despite, Richmond’s dominance heading into half-time, it would be Ella Boag on the half-time siren that would drive a spike into the heart of Tigerland. The winger would be running down the Fos Williams Stand side off the ground before Mules-Robinson gave her the football. Boag leaned back into the kick, and the footy shaped back magically.
In the third quarter, the Power turned it on…
After a first half in which she had been held well, Dowrick went bang in the third quarter, she was dangerous in stoppage and was able to get the football out and forward for the Power. Dowrick ended up with seven disposals and three clearances for the quarter, and would end with 17 disposals for the game.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing in the premiership quarter, and for the first five minutes it looked as if the Alberton crowd had booked tickets to the Cailtin Greiser show.
All day, Greiser was helped by Eliish Sheerin, (22 disposals, and seven clearances) and Mon Conti, (19 disposals and four clearances) in the middle.
Greiser kicked her first goal inside the opening two minutes.
Greiser would than go even better with her second goal three minutes later. From the boundary line, she unloaded a bomb to send the Tigers into the lead, as the ball went through post height from 40 metres out.
Caitlin Wendland made sure she wasn’t outdone by Greiser’s excellence. After Scholz’s tap, she would grab the footy at half forward, burst through the stoppage, and kick a magnificent snap as the Power steadied.
From there the rest of the quarter was all Port Adelaide, they set up well behind the football and forced Richmond into mistakes. Levicki entered the majors column four minutes after Wendland, as Port continued on its way.
Saint up forward was beginning to be a real problem in the final minutes of the quarter for Richmond, she goaled as the ball bounced through post height.
The back half of the third quarter was what set up the win for the Power. Dowrick was the standout, but she also had help from ruck Matilda Scholz. Scholz either won clearances from her own ruck work, or outworked counterpart Kelly to make sure her midfielders got first hands to the ball.
Early in the last term, Katie Brennan would kick a fantastic goal. Brennan would grab the top of her hamstring after the play, and she was taken from the ground.
Houghton’s snapped goal early in the fourth killed the game. The Power jet was able to produce a peace of absolute brilliance.
When Kirsty Lamb goaled with two minutes to go in the last, Port Adelaide were already looking forward to next week’s semi-final against the Hawks.
Teakle’s Return
In the closing moments of the opening term, Juila Teakle would announce her return to the big time in some fashion.
Teakle would assist Ash Saint for her first, before taking a big mark from Scholz’s inside 50 kick and steering through a goal from 40 metres out.
Juila Teakle at her best is a dangerous proposition for the rest of the competition, but today at Alberton, herself, Houghton, and Saint were able to unlock a fantastic attack.
Port Adelaide’s Complete Performance
Port Adelaide had saved their best performance of the season for the historic final.
Port won the ball at stoppage, and they gave the Tigers little chance to play the way they wanted, both inside and out. Port used the ball better and were more clinical with their chances.
The Tigers by comparison were worrying when they did have possession. They fumbled and were unable to hit targets. That was the difference today.
Port Power: 3.2 5.4 8.6 11.6.72
Richmond: 1.0 3.3 5.5 7.6.48
Goalkickers:
Port Power:
Saint (3), Houghton (2), Teakle (2), Boag, Lamb, Levicki, Wendland
Richmond:
Greiser (3), Brennan (2), Yassir (2)
Best:
Port Power:
Dowrick, Saint, Teakle
Richmond:
Conti, Greiser, Sheerin