North Adelaide escape with a four-point victory in its final minor round game against Port Adelaide
North Adelaide will enter next week’s SANFL elimination final with a win after prevailing over Port Adelaide in a nailbiter by four points on Saturday.
NORTH Adelaide fought back from a three-quarter time deficit to beat Port Adelaide by four points at Prospect Oval on Saturday.
The finals-bound Roosters found themselves 15-points behind at the final change and looking at an unlikely loss heading into the major round.
But Aidan Tropiano and Tom Schwarz led a last-quarter fightback to help North clinch a 11.12 (78) to 11.8 (74) victory.
The result came with a last-gasp scare for North as Port’s Cam Hewett had a chance to win the game for the Magpies and retiring club great skipper Steven Summerton.
Hewett was awarded a free kick about 55m out in front of goal and took his shot after the siren, but did not make the distance.
North has, however, only tasted success in just two of its last five games — a 20-point victory against the Crows in a shootout on July 28, before Saturday's nailbiting finish against Port.
Roosters coach Josh Carr believed being able to win a close game like his side did against the Magpies would give players belief heading into next week’s do-or-die game against the Panthers.
“It (the win) wasn’t pretty,” Carr said.
“But I think we are ready for finals.
“Over the last three to four weeks we’ve been building and even though our second and third quarter (against Port) weren’t great we still found a way to win.”
Port showed plenty of fight and determination in its quest to send off Summerton and AFL-listed Lindsay Thomas, who also announced his retirement before the game, on a high.
Summerton, in his 228th and final appearance in the black and white prison bars, was instrumental in helping Port steal the momentum and the lead in the second quarter after being 16-points down at the first break.
He amassed 34 disposals and a goal.
Port coach Matthew Lokan was disappointed with the result, but proud of his players’ effort.
“Our boys were up to the fight and then it was a roll of the dice that went their way at the end,” Lokan said.
“They are a good side, we haven’t been consistent enough, but we were able to bring our A game today.
“But unfortunately we weren’t able to get the win.”
Jack Trengove (31 possessions, two goals) Jimmy Toumpas (34 touches), and Will Snelling (25) were also strong for Port.
The visitors booted five goals to two to take a two-point lead into half-time.
They continued to hold the momentum in the third term, taking the game on with quick movement by hand and foot and fierce tackling.
But when the Roosters stepped up their intensity and came out firing in the last quarter, frustrations got the better of the Magpies and North capitalised booting four goals to one to win the game.
SCOREBOARD
NORTH ADELAIDE 4.5 6.8 7.10 11.12 (78)
PORT ADELAIDE 2.1 7.4 10.7 11.8 (74)
BEST — North: Schwarz, Tropeano, McInerney, Spina, Wundke. Port: Summerton, Toumpas, Trengove, Snelling, Kluske.
GOALS — North : Harvey, Hender 3, Woodcock 2, Young, McInerney, Ramsey. Port: Ladhams, Trengove 2, Johnson, Morgan, Ortiz, Patmore, Summerton, Thomas, Wong.
UMPIRES — Harris, Broadbent, Lewis.