‘I couldn’t have scripted it any better’: Jason Porplyzia signs off with a West Adelaide win against former team
WEST Adelaide have given club champion Jason Porplyzia a fitting send off in his final game for the Bloods. They hammered his old side Adelaide after quarter time, kicking 16 goals to seven, eventually sailing home by 64 points.
WEST Adelaide gave club great Jason Porplyzia a fitting send off in his final game for the Bloods, hammering his old side Adelaide after quarter time to sail home by 64 points.
It’s hard to believe the Crows held an early lead of 12 points, as the home side piled on 16 goals to seven after the first break in Porplyzia’s 129th and final game.
The former Crow said the reality of retirement didn’t really hit him until the final minutes of the match.
“It was business as usual (going into the game). It wasn’t until the last few minutes I realised it’s the last time I’ll be on the field,” Porplyzia said.
“I’ve finished with nothing left in the tank. I couldn’t have scripted it any better.
“I think the body will enjoy a couple of months rest. Chasing after two little girls will keep me busy.”
Earlier in the day it was the Ben Davis show, kicking two majors and setting up other scoring opportunities for the Crows.
Up the other end, Westies burned their forward entries.
It would take for the old guard, last-gamer Porplyzia to come off the bench and get the Westies on the board with a bomb from 50, the first of three majors in time on.
With a beautiful squaring kick from deep in the pocket from Shannon Green to ball-hungry Brett Turner (eight touches for the quarter) who kicked truly, and Jono Beech converting, the home side stole back the lead.
The second quarter was all about Beech who kicked three - including two in a minute - while rising star Rankine could have set up his own stall in forward 50 he was selling so much candy, eventually kicking his first after threatening several times.
Mason Middleton, Kaine Stevens and Zach Bates were instrumental as the Bloods took a 43-point lead at half time, while the Crows could only muster a rushed behind for the quarter.
Early in the third, ruckman Paul Hunter kicked the Crows’ first major since the 17th minute of the opening term, but it would prove to be their final yelp — two to Ken Karpany put the match to bed.
Crows coach Ryan O’Keefe, who was not offered a contract extension at West Lakes, was tight lipped about his future.
“I’m not sure yet, I’ll just debrief first,” O’Keefe said.
He admitted season 2018 had been a tough learning experience.
“You’re definitely dictated by the talent you have, we had to use so many top up players, we didn’t have the manpower,” he said.
SCOREBOARD
WEST ADELAIDE: 3.5 9.9 12.14 19.17 131
ADELAIDE: 3.1 3.2 5.2 10.7 67
BEST — West: Beech, Stevens, Rankine, Schiller, Turner, Bates, Anderson.
Adelaide: Gibson, Wilson, Signorello, Boyle, Hunter, Cheney.
GOALS
West: Beech 5, Rankine 3, Karpany, Middleton, Burgess 2, Porplyzia, Turner, Keough, Bates, Wasley-Black.
Adelaide: Davis 2, Boxer, Hunter, Jarman, Weetra, Offe, Wilson, Fogarty, Hadden.
UMPIRES: Bryce, Crosby, Sboro.
CROWD: 1696 at City Mazda Stadium.