Adelaide had the better of an opening term played at a frenetic pace. Matthew Clarke gave his runners first use of the ball and they used it to good effect – opening up a 24-point lead at the first break.
Port lifted its intensity as the second quarter got underway and dominated possession early before star-forward Warren Tredrea went down clutching his right knee under the weight of a Ben Hart tackle. He was stretchered off and returned to the Power bench shortly after with a suspected dislocated knee cap.
The disruption did little to curb the Power’s dominance with Chad Cornes prolific all over the ground and boom-recruit Steven Salopek drilling two goals with his first two kicks in a Power guernsey.
The Power had erased their first-quarter deficit and led by a goal when the third term began.
Byron Pickett – looking comfortable in his new surroundings – booted his third major early in the quarter and when Chad Cornes added his first the situation looked grim for the Crows.
However, Adelaide weren’t done yet. An Andrew McLeod screamer at half-back led to an Ian Perrie goal which was quickly followed by Jason Torney’s first major for his new club.
Simon Goodwin reduced the deficit to two points late in the term with a booming nine-pointer that had Crows fans on their feet.
Adelaide was trailing late in the game with players from both sides missing clear shots for goal before Ladhams was awarded a free kick deep in the pocket and slotted home the winner.
Adelaide now travels to Darwin to play West Coast next Friday, while the Power will meet the loser of the Bulldogs/Cats clash in Nurioopta on Saturday.
ADELAIDE: 0.6.2, 0.7.2, 1.9.5, 1.10.9 (78)
PORT ADELAIDE: 0.2.2, 0.7.8, 0.10.9, 0.11.11 (77)
Nine-point goals: Adelaide: Goodwin 1. Port Adelaide: Nil.
Six-point goals: Adelaide: Goodwin 3, Ladhams 2, Rutten, Torney, Bassett, McLeod, Perrie, Burton. Port Adelaide: Pickett 3, Dew 3, Salopek 2, James 2, C Cornes.
Best: Adelaide: Goodwin, Edwards, Burton, Ladhams, McLeod, Clarke. Port Adelaide: N Stevens, Brogan, Schofield, C Cornes, Wanganeen, James.
Crowd: 25,560
Injuries: Adelaide: Bassett (corked thigh). Port Adelaide: Tredrea (dislocated knee cap)
Reports: Nil.
At AAMI Stadium
