Port Adelaide coach Garry Hocking proud of fight shown by the Magpies against Norwood

PORT Adelaide has all but secured its first minor premiership since 1999 after a hard-fought nine-point win against archrival Norwood at Alberton Oval yesterday.

PORT Adelaide has all but secured its first minor premiership since 1999 after a hard-fought nine-point win against archrival Norwood at Alberton Oval yesterday.

The Magpies, in their first year as the Power’s reserves team, are now a game plus percentage clear on top with one home-and-away round to play.

They won yesterday despite having six fewer scoring shots and 12 less inside 50s as the Redlegs — fighting for a coveted top-three spot — kicked themselves out of the game.

But coach Garry Hocking has refused to count his chickens and instructed his players to make certain of top spot by beating bottom-placed Glenelg at the Bay on Saturday.

“That will be the message — that it's not done until we finish all the rounds and we see where we sit,” he said. “At the moment we sit on top but we want to make sure we secure it and earn it next week.”

Hocking however acknowledged the importance of Port's triumph in a match which meant so much to both sides.

“It's a great result for us,” he said. “It was a big game as far as the ladder was concerned, it was at home in front of our crowd and they got us on their ground in round one.

“It was a ripper contest and we were looking down the barrel at three (consecutive) losses, so I was very proud of our boys to fight it out right to the very end.

“Norwood played very well and their kicking in front of goal probably hurt them a little bit but we stayed in the contest and we found a way to win. Heading towards finals it's good for our blokes to taste a tough win again.”

Hocking said getting a week off in the finals to “freshen up” players would be paramount for his team's flag chances.

Norwood coach Ben Warren was left to rue a game of missed opportunities for his side, which had won seven of its previous eight matches.

It kicked a horribly inaccurate 6.15 to the Magpies' 9.6 and failed to kick a goal into the wind at the southern end, despite having 19 inside 50s at that end of the ground.

Warren lamented Norwood's first quarter with the wind when it dominated play but could manage only 2.7.

Port hit the front early in the second term and never trailed again. “It's obviously disappointing because we had a fair bit riding on this game,” said Warren, whose team can still secure a top three spot by beating Adelaide at The Parade on Saturday. “We certainly needed to win to ensure we finished in the top three but the positives were we had more scoring shots, more inside 50s and more clearances (44-29).

“Kicking 2.7 in the first quarter was costly and we just couldn't put it on the scoreboard when it mattered.

“That was frustrating but if we come up against them again (in the finals) I think we will be better prepared. The boys have been good now for 10 weeks and we have to make sure we win next week. That certainly becomes our most important game of the year.''

Midfielders Sam Gray and Steven Summerton (25 disposals each) were outstanding for the Pies. Sam Baulderstone (20 disposals, 29 hit-outs) dominated ruck for the Legs, while on-baller Matt Panos earned 23 disposals and 11 clearances.

PORT 2.1 6.3 8.4 9.6 (60)

NORWOOD 2.7 2.10 6.14 6.15 (51)

BEST — Port: S. Gray, Summerton, Newton, Amon, Clurey, Impey, Stewart, Mitchell. Norwood: Baulderstone, Panos, Wilson, Hughes, Roocke, Kirwan, Webber.

GOALS — Port: Krakouer, R. Young 2, Hitchcock, Shaw, Amon, S. Gray, Stewart. Norwood: Evans 2, Dawe, Wilson, Newton, Davis.

UMPIRES — M. Avon, M. Schramm, S. Hosking.