A strong second-half fightback wasn’t quite enough to get Adelaide a victory in Saturday’s Under 23 trial game at Thebarton Oval, going down to Port Adelaide by six points.
The Crows pushed hard to turn around a 34-point half-time deficit but ultimately fell short, going down to the Power 10.9 (69) to 10.15 (75).
Port Adelaide started the better of the two sides, registering the first four scoring shots of the game. Unfortunately for Matthew Lokan’s team, they were all minor scores.
Lachlan Gollant, the youngest player on Adelaide’s list, kicked the game’s opening goal on the back of his strong forward pressure.
Todd Marshall registered the Power's first major at the 18-minute mark, sparking a period of Port Adelaide domination with seven of the next eight goals.
The Crows looked lacklustre for much of the first half, with their opposition controlling the game and owning field position.
After half-time, the sides went goal-for-goal for the next 15 minutes, with rookie Ben Crocker and train-on player James Mathews both kicking goals only to see instant responses via Jake Patmore and Dylan Williams.
Late in the third, Adelaide then started to make its charge, with three consecutive goals trimming the deficit to 17 points at the final change.
When Darcy Fogarty converted a set shot for his third goal after a Crocker goal just a minute early, Port Adelaide’s lead was down to just six points.
Power half-forward Kane Farrell steadied the ship midway through the final term with a classy finish on his left foot.
But Crocker persisted and booted his third goal with five minutes to play to bring the margin back to one straight kick.
That was as close as the Crows would come, with Port Adelaide chipping the football around for much of the closing period to hold on for a narrow victory.
Speaking to reporters post-game, State League Coach and Development Manager Heath Younie said he was pleased with his side's effort after half time.
“Terrific game I thought. Both halves different,” Younie said.
“I think Port were terrific in the first half, I thought our guys fought back really, really strongly after half time. We had adjusted a couple of things and to their credit, put up a really strong effort.”
Younie was particularly impressed by some of Adelaide's first and second-year players.
“For me, the fantastic thing was to see some of our young guys that were picked in the last two years, in particular. That’s the future of our footy club," he said.
“If you go through it – (Will) Hamill, (Jordon) Butts, Chayce Jones, (Ned) McHenry early.
“Then ahead of the ball, (Darcy) Fogarty came back. For those guys to continually build on their career, it shows they’re up to it and the work that’s been done over the pre-season puts them in great stead for this year.”
ADELAIDE 1.4 2.6 7.7 10.9 (69)
PORT ADELAIDE 1.6 7.10 9.12 10.15 (75)
GOALS
ADELAIDE: Fogarty 3, Crocker 3, Gollant, Mathews, Himmelberg, Frampton
PORT ADELAIDE: Marshall 2, Williams 2, Buzza, Sutcliffe, Cox, Burgoyne, Patmore, Farrell
INJURIES
ADELAIDE: McHenry (back/hamstring tightness), Mathews (knee)
