Double Blues continue progress with third win over Port Adelaide

STURT has emerged as the best team outside the top five after yesterday beating Port Adelaide for the third time this season.

STURT has emerged as the best team outside the top five after yesterday beating Port Adelaide for the third time this season.

After consecutive wooden spoons, the Double Blues have made significant progress in 2013 by blooding young talent in preparation for a mass-exodus of Crows-listed players next year.

The seven-point win yesterday was built on a solid defensive effort which was able to withstand a constant challenge from the Magpies in the final quarter at Alberton.

"The week before the North game we said there's four (games) to go and I want us to be the next best side and it was something realistically we could achieve in the last half of the year," Sturt coach Seamus Maloney said.

"To this point we've ticked off two good wins, we're in good form, we're defending a lot better when it's not going our way and we're hanging in games a lot better."

Ben Kane was outstanding in the midfield, Page was damaging in his attacking role off half back and Jack Kelly and Sam Smith kicked two goals as the Blues replaced Port in sixth spot on the ladder on percentage.

Tim McIntyre also had his moments and kicked three goals in the third term that were crucial to the win.

Port was competitive and repeatedly challenged Sturt but could never go on with it. Its lack of forward pressure allowed the Double Blues to waltz out of defence too easily and move the footy through the middle.

The positives were Kory Beard's continual improvement, Ben Newton maintaining his purple patch of form and Henry Slattery playing his best game for the club.

"They were always within arm's reach but never quite let us get over the top of them," Port coach Ken McGregor said.

"I thought the guys kept trying but just didn't quite have it in them today. "In the last quarter we got a bit tired ... we had enough opportunities with the ball going forward but we just couldn't hold it in and they attacked from that."

Sturt was all over the Magpies who were playing kick-and-hope football rather than with any thought or precision early and trailed by 27 points in the first quarter.

Nick Madden peppered the goals but couldn't hit the bullseye while Sturt linked up beautifully hitting handballs and slicing their way through the Port defence for Page to kick a goal.

It took until 12 minutes into the second quarter for Port to kick back-to-back goals and it was Newton providing the spark as the tide began to turn.

Beard was sent from defence into attack with an impact and when Josh Thurgood kicked a goal from a free kick straight in front, the Magpies hit the lead.

Sturt got the first two goals of the third quarter to re-establish its lead but Port wouldn't go away and consecutive goals to Steven Summerton got them back in it.

Jake Johansen got the first goal of the final term but as the game became an arm-wrestle Stut was able to protect its slim lead through the brilliant defensive efforts of Thomas Bartlett, John Hinge and Michael Coad.