SANFL 2019: Port Adelaide v Woodville-West Torrens Round 16 match report
A bag of five goals from Steven Motlop has helped Port Adelaide comfortably brush aside Woodville-West Torrens at Alberton Oval.
Port Adelaide has enjoyed the perfect pre-finals tune up, comfortably brushing aside Woodville-West Torrens by 63 points at Alberton Oval on Sunday.
Often known for its tall timber in attack, this time it was all about the Magpies’ light-footed brigade through Steven Motlop’s five goals and Kane Farrell pinging a brace from outside 50.
In Antarctic conditions it was an opening quarter of contrasting forward systems, with Port, aided by a strong breeze, boasting a plethora of options as the Eagles could eke out only two points.
After a scrappy opening, Motlop got on the end of a Dougal Howard snap in the seventh minute to open Port’s soon-to-be-bulging account.
Then Farrell’s classy finish from outside the arc gave the home side an early advantage they would not relinquish.
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Any dreams of an Eagles revival after an early major to James Rowe in the second stanza were immediately snuffed out as Port threaded three goals within as many minutes through Woodcock, Sam Mayes and Dougal Howard.
The visitors found momentary respite through Nicholas Moore’s first, but it was akin to plugging a dam wall break with chewing gum as the Magpies machine rolled on.
First class roving from Farrell allowed him to stroll in for his second while Willem Drew and Jack Trengove feasted on 35 possessions between them, giving the Pies a 47-point buffer at half time.
When Billy Frampton converted a towering grab, then another rainmaker and goal of the day contender from Farrell, the contest was killed four minutes into the third term.
Port coach Matt Lokan was pleased with a true team effort, with the Magpies winning seven of its last eight games.
“Our whole team played well,” Lokan said.
“(We had) 15 guys you could have put in your best five or six players.
“Our consistency has been our strength. I think we’re in a pretty healthy spot.”
He also praised Motlop’s bag of five and Scott Lycett’s 30 touches.
“Our forward line was great,” he said.
“Mots was good, he hit the scoreboard. We expect him to come back here and have an impact on the game.
“(Lycett’s) numbers were fantastic. He’s a premiership ruckman, let’s not undersell Scotty.
“He came back here with a really good attitude. He was great for us (today).”
Eagles coach Sam Lonergan remained positive despite the “challenging” match.
“There’s no need to search for any more belief that what everybody has,” Lonergan said.
“The belief is there … it’s now about getting a fit team on the park and being more consistent.”
SCOREBOARD
PORT: 4.5 9.8 14.12 18.14 (122)
EAGLES: 0.2 2.3 5.6 8.11 (59)
BEST — Port: Drew, Motlop, Lycett, Trengove, Farrell, McKenzie, Howard. Eagles: N. Hayes, Longergan, Goldsworthy, Rowe, Foote.
GOALS — Port: Motlop 5, Farrell, Howard, Woodcock 3, Drew, Mayes, Frampton, Davidson. Eagles: Rowe, N. Hayes, Petrenko 2, Moore, Foote.
UMPIRES: Broadbent, Scott, Bowen.
CROWD: 1815 at Alberton Oval