Glenelg recruits Liam McBean and Dom Barry shine in Tigers’ stunning upset over Port Adelaide Magpies
RECRUITS Liam McBean and Dom Barry starred as Glenelg put a winless pre-season behind it to stun the Port Adelaide Magpies at the Bay on Friday night.
RECRUITS Liam McBean and Dom Barry starred as Glenelg put a winless pre-season behind it to stun the Port Adelaide Magpies at the Bay on Friday night.
Former Richmond key forward McBean – a giant at 202cm and 108kg – kicked six goals while ex-Melbourne small forward/midfielder Barry ran rampant, setting the home side alight with his blistering speed and class.
While Port Adelaide defender Jasper Pittard made a successful return from a month-long hamstring injury, the Tigers pulled off a shocking 17-point upset with a strong team effort.
Widely written off as a finals contender this year after poor pre-season results and questions over its recruiting, Glenelg conceded the first goal but broke to a four-goal lead at quarter-time – courtesy of three early majors from McBean - and was never headed.
Its ball movement was superb all night and it tackled with ferociousness, forcing a Port side that fielded 19 AFL-listed players into mistakes.
Apart from McBean and excitement machine Barry, captain Andrew Bradley was superb with 26 disposals, defenders Christian Howard, Chris Curran and Aaron Joseph stood tall under pressure and Warrick McGinty was a powerhouse in the ruck against more seasoned Matthew Lobbe.
For Port, Brendon Ah Chee was outstanding with 30 disposals and three goals while captain Steven Summerton had 26 possessions and Pittard 16.
Glenelg, which lost its three pre-season games to Central District, Norwood and West Adelaide, jumped Port early.
After Luke Reynolds – one of only two non-AFL listed players in the Magpies side, along with Summerton – kicked the opening goal, McBean kicked two quick majors to stamp his imprint on the competition.
With Howard (10 disposals for the term) acting as a prolific link man across half-back, Glenelg dominated the rest of the quarter to break to a 25-point lead at the first change.
The teams traded blows in the second term and the Power’s top draft pick last year, key forward Todd Marshall, got his name on the scoresheet when he marked strongly close to goal.
But McBean was proving a strong focal point at the other end and when he bagged his fourth goal and impressive speedster Barry kicked his first the Tigers’ lead was out to 30 points.
SCOREBOARD
GLENELG 6.3 9.4 12.9 15.12 (102)
PORT 2.2 5.4 9.4 13.7 (85)
BEST - Glenelg: McBean, Barry, Bradley, Howard, Curran, McGinty, Sawford, Joseph. Port: Ah Chee, Summerton, Atley, Lobbe, Pittard.
GOALS - Glenelg: McBean 6, Barry, T. Milera 2, Snook, Scott, I. Milera, Vitkunas. Martini. Port: Ah Chee 3, Reynolds, Ladhams, Marshall 2, Drew, Lobbe, Johnson, Neade.
INJURIES – Glenelg: O’Keeffe (hamstring).
UMPIRES – L. Haussen, D. Soberaj, M. Sboro.
CROWD – 2915 at Glenelg Oval.