Hard-running Bloods blow away Magpies in SANFL qualifying final
WEST Adelaide fans, dare to dream. A year after the Bloods crashed to ninth on the table they have moved to within a win of a grand final after beating Port Adelaide in Sunday’s qualifying final.
WEST Adelaide fans, dare to dream.
A year after the Bloods crashed to ninth on the table they have moved to within one win of a grand final after beating more fancied Port Adelaide — with an effort that combined grunt, courage and daring — in the qualifying final at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
A week earlier the Magpies had thwarted the Bloods’ run in a round 23 fixture at Alberton, but on Sunday West turned the tables in the most emphatic fashion after quarter time.
From seven minutes into the second term until 13 minutes into the final stanza, West outscored the Magpies 60 points to two.
The Bloods brought Port undone with a mixture of hard inside footy and fast outside play — all of it so impressive a first premiership in 32 seasons suddenly seems possible.
The Bloods were blanketed defensively by Garry Hocking’s well-drilled Magpies for a term-and-a-bit but their hard-running midfield refused to be denied.
The run which has made West so good to watch for much of this season returned from early in the second term and they would bang through nine unanswered goals in a compelling display.
The second leading possession winner yesterday was an 18-year-old kid called Will Snelling, whom some AFL scouts weren’t convinced about heading into the game.
He combined with the experienced Chris Schmidt and Jason Porplyzia — along with the unheralded Kaine Stevens and Josh Schiller — as Westies broke the shackles.
The Bloods began breaking the lines and the fast-ball movement spelled trouble for Port’s back six.
Aaron Fielke and Jon Beech have been dangerous all season and began firing.
The rain began falling midway through the third term but the Bloods had a taste for it by then and head into Sunday’s second semi final against Woodville-West Torrens with genuine belief.
“We were slow to start with our pressure and they got too much time and space,” West Adelaide coach Mark Mickan said.
“Once we addressed that with our pressure and raised the tempo and started to use the ball better we started to create opportunities and that brought other players into the game.
“We need everyone contributing as a footy team and today after quarter time I thought we pretty much got that.”
Up the other end, Port broke down badly across half forward.
Adam Hartlett was impassable for West and Port couldn’t find forward winners despite Hocking swinging multiple players through the area.
“Coming through the middle of the ground we just killed the ball, Hocking said.
“That gave them a bit of confidence and from then on we just lost all composure which is very rare.
“Although we’re a young group we’re still pretty good when it comes to a bit of heat but we just got spooked a bit in the end.”
Hocking may regain John Butcher when Port faces Central in Sunday’s cut-throat semi final.
West won more of the football in a defensive opening to the clash but failed to create targets inside-50m.
Port’s created the more telling entries Paul Stewart opened the scoring when he beat his opponent and kicked truly 13 minutes into the contest.
Luke Reynolds kicked a beauty from the boundary moments later before Taite Silverlock kicked a settler for the Bloods.
A Daniel Caire error led to a Sean Davidson goal moments later, and the Magpies held an 18 point quarter-time advantage despite most statistics being even.
Ben Sawford snapped a blinder for Port shortly after the resumption but it proved a spur for the Bloods.
Porplyzia and gun teenager Snelling were instrumental and forwards Fielke and Beech started getting opportunities one-out against their opponents, as both kicked second-quarter goals.
Up the other end Hartlett left his man and made an inspirational spoil on Jess Palmer, as the Bloods as cut a 24 point margin to three points at the long break.
Then they went on with the job.
WEST ADELAIDE 1.2 4.5 8.7 10.10 (70)
PORT ADELAIDE 4.2 5.2 5.4 6.5 (41)
BEST –West: Snelling, Stevens, Hartlett, Schiller, Schmidt, Porplyzia, Beech, Caire. Port: Colquhoun, Mitchell, Summerton.
GOALS –West: Fielke, Stevens 2, Silverlock, Beech, Green, Tuck, Porplyzia, Snelling. Port: Mitchell, Reynolds, Stewart, Davidson, Sawford, Gray.
UMPIRES: Fleer, Hosking, Schraam.
CROWD: 8031