South Adelaide demolishes Port Adelaide by 36 points at Alberton

South Adelaide has an unbeaten record after two SANFL matches so far this season after a 36-point victory over Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval on Saturday.

Port's Boyd Woodcock and South's Matthew Rose battle for the ball during the teams’ clash at Alberton Oval on Saturday. Picture: Matt Loxton

South Adelaide continued its red-hot early season form to demolish Port Adelaide by 36 points at Alberton Oval on Saturday.

The Panthers’ 14.10 (94) to 8.10 (58) win was built on slick skills and quick ball movement down the corridor.

South’s co-skippers Matthew Rose (27 disposals, seven rebounds inside 50) and Joel Cross (24 possessions, six clearances) led from the front brilliantly.

South's Nick Liddle followed by Port's Matthew Appleton during the sides’ clash at Alberton Oval on Saturday. Picture: Matt Loxton

Tom Whittlesea was unstoppable up-forward, finishing the match with five goals.

Panthers coach Jarrad Wright was pleased with the dominant display, especially after losing Sam Overall to a groin injury within the first five minutes.

“The boys’ work ethic and will at the contest has been faultless these past two weeks,” Wright said.

“Our pressure around the contest, our ability to win one-on-one has been really pleasing, which gives us time to set up our defensive structures as well.

“I thought our pressure around the contest really caught them (Port) on turnover a lot and made them second guess themselves.

Port and South players in action during their match at Alberton Oval on Saturday. Picture: Matt Loxton

“We had a ball movement plan today which the boys executed really well.

“We were one down with Overall coming off so we lost our key forward but it was a really gutsy effort from the boys.”

Port lost captain Cameron Sutcliffe (hamstring) and Aidyn Johnson (concussion) in the first quarter and South took a 10-point lead into the first break.

But the Magpies rallied early in the second term as Joe Atley and Jack Trengove took control of the stoppages. Kane Farrell booted two quick goals and Port flew ahead by two points.

The Panthers responded with two goals of their own to hold a nine-point advantage at the main break.

South took advantage of Port’s lack of rotations and slammed on six goals within the first 12 minutes of the third quarter.

The Magpies were pressured by the Panthers and forced into costly turnovers.

The Panthers’ Jake Summerton and Port's Peter Ladhams getting pulled off the ball by South's Brad Crabb. Picture: Matt Loxton

Even when the Panthers made the odd mistake with a handball or a kick that missed a target, they had time to steady, as Port gave them too much space.

Port’s AFL-listed players, including Jack Trengove 42 touches seven clearances, 10 tackles), Sam Mayes (30 disposals, three clearances) and Matthew Broadbent (27 possessions, four clearances, four rebounds inside 50) worked hard but were given little help.

The Magpies missed the quality and grunt work of Sam Gray up-forward and the experience of Dougal Howard in defence - both missed the SANFL game after being called into the Power side.

Port coach Matthew Lokan was disappointed with the loss and was left to lament poor ball use, particularly in the third term.

“We weren’t able to execute consistently but when we did we thought we looked pretty good,” Lokan said.

SCOREBOARD

PORT ADELAIDE 2.1 4.3 6.4 14.10 (94)

SOUTH ADELAIDE 3.5 5.6 12.7 8.10 (58)

BEST - Port: Trengove, Mayes, Pudney, Atley, Broadbent South: Cross, Rose, Noble, Whittlesea, Liddle

GOALS - Port: McKenzie, Farrell 2, Frampton, Hewett, Cox, Woodcock

South: Whittlesea 5, Cailotto, Heaslip, Cross 2, Noble, Schwarz, Liddle

UMPIRES - Nokes, Beyer, Reardon

INJURIES Port: Cameron Sutcliffe (hamstring), Aidyn Johnson (concussion)

South: Sam Overall (groin)