Nathan Krakouer inspires Magpies to a big win over West Adelaide
PORT Adelaide’s Nathan Krakouer could be a chance to play his first AFL game next week after starring in the Magpies’ 92-point win over West Adelaide.
PORT Adelaide’s Nathan Krakouer could be in line for his first AFL call-up for 2017 following a standout performance in the Magpies’ 92-point thrashing over West Adelaide at Richmond Oval on Saturday.
Krakouer led from the front by not only booting six goals in his side’s 22.17 (149) to 8.9 (57) victory over the Bloods, but also with his ability to win the hard ball, read the game and set up creative pieces of play.
Power-listed Todd Marshall was also dominant and did his hopes of snagging his first AFL games no harm either after an impressive five-goal final quarter.
Jackson Trengove responded brilliantly to being dropped by the Power after a dismal display in the AFL Showdown a week prior. He showed toughness around the contest and in the ruck and finished with two goals.
Port coach Chad Cornes said the win was as a result of a full-team performance.
“I was really happy with that game,” Cornes said.
“It was a real credit to the guys who got dropped from the Power and the way they came out and played was outstanding.”
Port started slowly and the home side did all the attacking in the first 10 minutes.
But the Bloods failed to capitalise on the scoreboard, only managed 1.3, before Port stole the momentum with superior skills and its ability to spread hard.
The Mapies, inspired by Trengove, skipper Steve Summerton and Joe Atley through the midfield, worked the ball forward with their speed and set up a 23-point lead at the first change and never looked back.
Bloods’ young gun Izak Rankine showed plenty of promise, including a classy second-quarter major after dodging a defender and snapping the goal.
West did well to outscore Port during the third term. But the Bloods’ final-quarter fade-out, which gifted Port 10 goals left West coach Mark Mickan disappointed.
“Our third quarter was full of merit,” Mickan said.
“But we got destroyed out of the middle in the last quarter and we just couldn’t get our hands on the ball.”
Veteran Daniel Caire, skipper Chris Schmidt and Rankine battled hard for the home side.
SCOREBOARD
PORT 5.3 10.9 12.14 22.17 (149)
WEST 1.4 4.4 7.7 8.9 (57)
BEST - Port - Krakouer, Trengove, Atley, Summerton, Toumpas. West - Rankine, Schmidt, Keough, Stevens, Caire
GOALS - Port - Krakouer 6, Marshall 5, Eddy 3, Trengove, Palmer, Young 2, Lobbe, Ladhams. West - Rankine 2, Karpany, Keough, Caire, McPherson, Green, Wasley-Black
Umpires: Broadbent, Schramm, Cook