Port Adelaide has extended its Showdown winning streak to six games with a rousing 12-point win over Adelaide in front of an AFL record crowd at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night. The Power had to hold off a late charge from its cross-town rival but held its nerve and prevailed 12.6 (78) to 9.12 (78) before 51,140 fans.
Chad Cornes was the standout for Port Adelaide – finishing with 20 possessions, 11 marks and three goals – but credit must go to the Power’s defensive unit which strangled the much-vaunted Crows attack and ran the ball out of defence with apparent ease for much of the night.
The Crows were warm favourites going into the match but it was the Power which made the early running with Roger James providing the inspiration in midfield with 14 first-quarter disposals.
Up forward, Shaun Burgoyne continued his rich vein of form – booting two goals for the term to help the Power to an 18-point lead at the first break.
An out-of-touch Wayne Carey was replaced at the goal-front by Ian Perrie in the second quarter, while Matthew Bode, Tyson Edwards and Simon Goodwin combined to swing the momentum Adelaide’s way.
The Crows went inside their forward 50 nine more times than Port in the quarter but failed to capitalise, scoring 3.7 for the term to close the gap to five points at half-time.
Ronnie Burns was prominent in attack for Adelaide – finishing the half with three goals – while Peter Burgoyne kicked his second to stem the tide for the Power.
The game degenerated into an arm wrestle as the third quarter progressed with neither side bothering the scorer until the Power rushed a behind 10 minutes in.
Proceedings were halted shortly after as Nathan Bassett was stretchered from the ground after a fearsome hip-and-shoulder from Shaun Burgoyne.
The break did little to disturb Port Adelaide’s concentration and when Peter Burgoyne booted his third the Power had jumped out to a 19-point lead.
Things were looking grim for Adelaide before a Tyson Edwards goal shortly before the three-quarter time siren dragged the margin back to 12 points at the final break.
Chad Cornes snapped a miraculous goal eight minutes into the final quarter to break the stalemate and when Shaun Burgoyne followed up with his third soon after, the Power was out to a 26-point lead.
The game appeared safe for the Power but Edwards’ second goal of the match was quickly followed by majors to Mark Bickley and Graham Johncock to reduce the deficit to seven points just into time-on.
However, Chad Cornes was the hero for the Power – standing tall to take a strong contested mark and convert from 25 metres out to seal it for Port.
ADELAIDE: 2.2, 5.9, 6.10, 9.12 (66)
PORT ADELAIDE: 5.2, 7.2, 9.5, 12.6 (78)
Goals: Adelaide: Burns 3, Edwards 2, Ladhams, McGregor, Bickley, Johncock. Port Adelaide: S Burgoyne 3, P Burgoyne 3, C Cornes 3, Tredrea, K Cornes, James.
Best: Adelaide: Goodwin, Bode, Edwards, Johncock, Bickley, Ricciuto. Port Adelaide: C Cornes, Wakelin, K Cornes, Wanganeen, P Burgoyne, James.
Crowd: 51,140
Injuries: Adelaide: Bassett (concussion)
Reports: Nil.
At AAMI Stadium
