Port Adelaide’s big turnaround stuns Sturt in grand final rematch thriller

PORT Adelaide has kept its faint SANFL finals hopes flickering after upsetting last year’s premier Sturt by seven points in a barnstorming finish at Alberton.

Jack Watts celebrates his goal with Team mates. Picture: Sarah Reed

• Watts responds but is there a spot for him?

PORT Adelaide has kept its faint SANFL finals hopes flickering after upsetting last year’s premier Sturt by seven points in a barnstorming finish at Alberton.

The Magpies had looked like their season was finished halfway through the third quarter but quick goals from Jack Trengove, Kane Farrell and Jack Watts changed both the compextion of the match and the noise levels coming from the terraces.

After seven unanswered goals from halfway through the third quarter to halfway through the last the Magpies were in front and managed to hang on when the Double Blues staged a final bid to steal it back.

Jack Watts takes a pack mark. Picture Sarah Reed

Former Demon Trengove bobbed up in pack after pack and often with the ball in his hand and a neat delivery to a teammate. He had plenty of support.

Captain Steve Summerton was composed and clever in traffic, Dom Barry provided zip and opportunity on the outside and Jimmy Toumpas got better the longer the game went.

Then there was the day’s obvious drawcard: former Melbourne No. 1 draft pick Jack Watts, who played his first game for the Magpies after being dropped from the Power.

Dom Barry gets his handpass away. Picture: Sarah Reed

He provided and obvious target up forward, took some super grabs or brought it to ground, kicked three goals and delivered some of the deftest foot passes of the day from 17 disposals.

Those who turned up just to see him didn’t leave disappointed.

Port Adelaide coach Matthew Lokan didn’t swing any wholesale changes to spark the change.

The match was a microcosm of the Magpies season — one that was constantly improving.

“We’ve probably been building towards that for the last couple of weeks,” Lokan said.

For the Double Blues, Shane McAdam, the nephew of Gilbert, kicked four goals and took some of the best hangers you’ll ever see.

Sturt coach Martin Mattner was philosophical after the match, saying the biggest thing was that the Double Blues had dropped off in the fundamentals.

“They probably lifted,” he said. “They’re a good team and have some good players but we probably let them back into the game.”

PORT ADELAIDE 2.4 3.4 6.5 10.7 (67)

STURT 3.0 7.1 8.2 9.6 (60)

GOALS

Port Adelaide: Watts 3, Farrell, Trengove 2, Johnson, Neade, Patmore

Sturt: McAdam 4, Taggert 2, Battersby, Hone, Slimming

BEST

Port Adelaide: Trengove, Watts, Barry, Summerton, Toumpas, Amon

Sturt: Kirkwood, Colquhoun, McAdam, Crocker, Thiele

INJURIES/REPORTS: nil

UMPIRES Scott, Broadbent, Lewis

CROWD 1802 at Alberton Oval