Michael Coad lifts Sturt over Port Adelaide
STURT finally produced close to the complete four-quarter performance it has been searching for with a 22-point win yesterday.
STURT finally produced close to the complete four-quarter performance it has been searching for by dishing a blow to Port Adelaide's finals hopes with a 22-point win yesterday.
The Double Blues found the physical strength and mental toughness to run out the game after being repeatedly challenged and twice almost coughing up five-goal leads.
Michael Coad and Jack Hombsch were huge in defence, Luke Crane kicked four goals and the ruck tandem of Angus Kurtze and Angus Graham exploited James Meiklejohn's absence in the Port Adelaide side. If Graham is ever going to oust Sam Jacobs for the Crows' ruck spot it is after yesterday's performance and yet another Adelaide loss on Friday night.
"We had a good win against the Eagles (in round 10) but I thought our willingness to guts it out today was excellent," coach Seamus Maloney said.
"It was a bit nervy a couple of times but we were definitely more composed in that last quarter and hopefully we're learning by guys getting more games together."
Port Adelaide's best players were its defenders because they were under the pump all day and Zane Kirkwood and Kory Beard stood tall. But Magpies coach Ken McGregor branded the loss the team's most disappointing of the season.
"I felt like their (Sturt's) intensity was 10 per cent better than us the whole game and that's what you get when that happens," McGregor said. "Our defence is one of our strong points, they did their role but unfortunately there weren't enough players contributing and we got beaten through our midfield."
Sturt made the most of kicking with the wind in the opening quarter and Graham's goal after the siren gave it a 26-point lead.
Jake Johansen got Port Adelaide on the board early in the second quarter before Sturt's regular full back Fraser Evans, who went forward, got the quick reply.
Starting with Coad in defence, the Double Blues sliced the Magpies open with precision passing and Crane's goal stretched the lead to 32 points. But that sparked Port Adelaide into action and some Graham Johncock magic including a goal from mid-air and then the boundary helped the Magpies to kick the next five in a row.
The resurgence was helped by Steven Summerton's creativity across half-forward and Daniel Kulikowski and Luke Slattery getting their hands on the footy in defence.
Two goals in two minutes to Crane re-established Sturt's lead but it started being too cute with the footy, trying to hit short targets instead of kicking long in wet conditions.
It opened the door for Port which played long and direct and fought its way back to within nine points but it was all Sturt from there and a thumping goal to Jack Kelly to start the final term put the Double Blues 27 points up.
The Magpies sent forward Josh Thurgood who kicked a goal then set up another but Sturt refused to surrender and although the revolving door at selection may continue with its AFL players this week, it will be confident of at least challenging top side Norwood.