PORT Adelaide has kept its finals hopes alive with a 36-point over West Coast 17.10 (112) to 11.10 (76) in front of 21,106 fans at AAMI Stadium.

The Power, wearing a striking black guernsey designed by a seven-year-old competition winner, looked and played like a completely different team to last week.

The home side, led by Geelong discard Jason Davenport (26 possessions and two goals), set-up victory with a six goal-to-one first quarter.

The margin blew-out to 64 points in the third quarter, but West Coast provided some resistance with five goals in the final term.

Brett Ebert topped Port Adelaide’s goalkicking with three, while Davenport, David Rodan, Warren Tredrea, Nick Salter, Matthew Broadbent and Robbie Gray finished with two-a-piece.

Kane Cornes (27 possessions and a goal) had the better of Matt Priddis and Jacob Surjan held the dangerous Mark LeCras to just two goals from three kicks.

Skipper Dom Cassisi was at his influential best finishing with 26 disposals, 14 tackles and six clearances.

For the Eagles Chris Masten (38 possessions and a goal) tried hard and Ashley Hansen backed up his three-goal bag against St Kilda with another three.

West Coast was in need of a fast start away from the confines of Subiaco Oval and young onballer Patrick McGinnity gave the visitors just that in the opening three minutes.

McGinnity, who was assigned the job on Danyle Pearce, tried to ruffle the Power match-winner’s feathers at the opening bounce and inflicted more pain when he spun out of a tackle and recorded his first goal in AFL football.

The Eagles stayed in the contest until halfway through the first quarter, but the floodgates opened when an inaccurate Port Adelaide finally adjusted to the stiff breeze.

Forgotten forward Salter nailed his first goal since round 19 last year and another to Ebert gave the Power a handy nine-point lead.

The home side, through skipper Cassisi and Kane Cornes, dominated the clearances and showcased the determination and spirit found wanting against Melbourne at the MCG last week.

Davenport starred with 12 possessions, five marks and two tackles and his two first-quarter goals helped the Power streak to a 28-point lead.

Tredrea and Gray continued Port Adelaide’s late flurry of goals and stretched the margin to 34 points at quarter time.

West Coast captain Darren Glass asserted his authority on the game at the start of the second term with a fierce but fair bump on Justin Westhoff.

But the ball spilled into the arms of the waiting Ebert who notched-up his second.
 
The Eagles responded with consecutive goals to LeCras and Hansen, but Port Adelaide was determined not to let its hard-earned lead slip.

Debutant Matthew Broadbent showed courage to mark in front of Nick Naitanui and was rewarded for his effort with a goal.

Broadbent’s first major triggered another run of Port Adelaide goals.

Tredrea continued his resurgence with a goal from a ruck contest and Ebert’s third increased the margin to 47 points at half time.

West Coast didn’t roll over in the third term, but failed to cut into the hefty margin.

Hansen gave the Eagles a sniff with the first goal of the quarter, but some magic from David Rodan epitomised the Power’s unwavering commitment.

Rodan created two goals from nothing and subsequent majors to Kane Cornes, Westhoff and Gray saw the lead blowout to 10 goals.

Quinten Lynch matched Rodan’s effort with two majors at the other end, but the Eagles still trailed by 58 points at the final change.

West Coast finished with goals to Kennedy, Hansen, Rosa and Masten helping to cut the massive three-quarter-time deficit, but it was a case of too little too late.


Port Adelaide 6.5 10.8 15.9 17.10 (112)
West Coast     1.1 3.3   6.5  11.10 (76)

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Ebert 3, Davenport, Rodan, Gray, Tredrea, Salter, Broadbent 2, K Cornes, Westhoff
West Coast: Hansen 3, Lynch, LeCras 2, McGinnity, Kennedy, Masten, Rosa

BEST
Port Adelaide: Davenport, Cassisi, K Cornes, Surjan, Rodan, Lade, Salopek, Ebert
West Coast: Masten, Hansen, Rosa, Lynch, Wirrpanda

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: nil
West Coast: nil

Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, Hay, Pannell
Official crowd: 21,106 at AAMI Stadium


The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.

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