Port Adelaide too good for North Adelaide in SANFL battle

Port Adelaide coach Matthew Lokan wanted a response to last week’s loss to South Adelaide, and he got it with an impressive win against the reigning premier at Alberton Oval.

Todd Marshall impressed as the key attacking weapon for Port Adelaide in the win over North Adelaide. Picture: Morgan Sette/AAP

PORT Adelaide has the credentials to give the SANFL premiership a shake, while one of its favourite sons Josh Carr has more worries as coach of reigning premier North Adelaide.

That is the bottom line from their Alberton Oval confrontation on Sunday when the home side, with hefty AFL-listed numbers, wasted little time bouncing back from a loss to South Adelaide last week with a convincing 21-point victory.

Port had too much composure and a superior work ethic and the Power would have been especially satisfied with the efforts of hard-running Jarrod Lienert, impressing in just his second game after being troubled by a knee injury.

North Adelaide’s Maris Olekalns runs into a Port Adelaide brick wall at Alberton. Picture: AAP Image/ Morgan Sette

Matthew Broadbent hugs teammate Joel Garner after scoring a goal in the win at Alberton. Picture: AAP Image/ Morgan Sette

Lienert started in defence before being moved onto the wing and he racked up the possessions as well as nailing a goal to give the Power match committee plenty to ponder.

Not only are the Roosters still a game in the red as a penalty for the 19th man drama, they emerged from the contest a battered side with a flood of injuries. The Roosters finished the game with no rotations, painful in the warm conditions against a hard-running Port side.

“It was a consistent four quarter effort,” Port coach Matthew Lokan said. “Especially in the third quarter, our intensity and ability to hunt the footy and the opposition when they had it was first class.

“We spoke about it before the game, being consistent and able to replicate what we wanted to get out of the game for four quarters. Twenty seven scoring shots is a good effort.

“We moved Jarrod (Lienert) to the wing for match ups and he was solid for us. He probably needed the run last week.”

The Roosters hung in the contest for the first half, only to struggle as injuries took their toll and Port seized the initiative to build a commanding 39-point lead.

Jack Trengove amassed the disposals, again, and Todd Marshall was a strong target in attack. Youngsters Kai Pudney and Martin Frederick were also lively.

Port was constantly on the attack, while it refused to relax the pressure as the Roosters ran out of answers.

Martin Frederick tries to keep the ball in under pressure from North Adelaide’s Maris Olekalns at Alberton Oval. Picture: AAP Image/ Morgan Sette

As the game lengthened so too did the Roosters’ error count.

“The first half we were good in patches, then we got fumbly,” Carr said. “That has been an issue in the first three weeks.

“They got their confidence up and played some good footy. We were pretty wounded in the end so it was going to be tough to match them.”

SCOREBOARD

PORT ADELAIDE 4.1 9.3 14.9 16.11 (107)

NORTH ADELAIDE 5.2 7.4 9.6 13.8 (86)

BEST — Port: Lienert, Trengove, Marshall, Pudney, Broadbent, Mayes, McKenzie. North: T. Schwarz, Spina, Allmond, Tropiano, Thring.

GOALS — Port: Marshall 4, Farrell, Ladhams, Cox 2, Edwards, Broadbent, Davidson, Johnson, Mead, Lienert. North: Ramsey, Harvey 3, Hender 2, Barns, Neade, Allmond, T. Schwarz, Combe.

INJURIES — North: Clisby (hamstring), Castree (ankle), J. Schwarz (concussion), Tropiano (shoulder).

REPORTS — North: Hender for allegedly striking.

UMPIRES — Bryce, Schramm, Scott.

CROWD — 1812 at Alberton Oval.