Port Adelaide’s Charlie Dixon blows kisses to Norwood fans as he leaves Alberton Oval

Charlie Dixon added fuel to the fire of the Port Adelaide and Norwood rivalry in the SANFL on Sunday by showing a bit of cheek … and it only added to the spectacle.

• Match report: Port run rampant over Norwood in final term
• Brad Ebert: “It feels really good to be back”
• Meaning behind Brodie Grundy’s tweet not entirely black and white

Port versus Norwood: it’s arguably the SANFL’s greatest rivalry.

So it’s only fitting that Port Adelaide’s high-profile big forward Charlie Dixon — making a return to football after a horror leg injury via a stint in the local league — would add fuel to that fire.

More than once during Sunday’s match between the archrivals, Dixon left Alberton Oval for the bench blowing kisses the way of Norwood’s supporters.

Vision of him doing this has now been made into a “GIF” that is doing the rounds on social media.

💋 https://t.co/t203Df9A9w pic.twitter.com/Ai0PjOARAQ

— PowerFromPort (@PowerFromPort) June 16, 2019

But no one’s telling him to stop because everyone is in agreeance that this is what makes the local league so good.

After the Magpies’ 45-point win coach Matthew Lokan said the “huge rivalry” that exists between Port and Norwood meant Redlegs supporters and players played it tough.

“Whether that’s them hanging over the fence giving Charlie a bit of cheek, or Charlie giving a little bit back, that’s passion in footy and I don’t think either party went over the line and pushed those boundaries,” Lokan said.

“That’s footy, that’s rivalry and that’s what it should be when it’s Port/Norwood.”

In his second game of SANFL after returning from a fractured leg, Dixon kicked 3.2, took eight marks and have five inside-50s in his 12 disposals. He booted five goals against Sturt the previous week.

After the game, Dixon told Channel 7 that he was having a lot of fun being back playing footy.

He said he knew the tension that existed between Port and Norwood — both on and off the field — and his kissing gestures were all part of the theatre.

Charlie Dixon lines up for goal during the Port Adelaide v Norwood game on Sunday. Picture: AAP/Emma Brasier

“All the guys over the Redlegs were all sitting right near the bench and I came off earlier after a bit of a scuffle and they were giving it to me and at the end then they were a little bit quiet so I had to say a few things,” he said.

“That’s what I love about SA football, is that everyone is so passionate about their team and there is so much raw emotion in it and I’m an emotional player and come off and to be able to give a little bit back and absolutely take a bit as well, it’s something that’s taken me a while to get used to with the passion and stuff, but having that little bit of banter with the crowd is always good and our crowd’s been unbelievable getting behind us … It’s unreal and I thank them for their supporting me through my troubles and also the team.”

Charlie Dixon speaks with coaches at quarter time during Port Adelaide’s 45-point win over Norwood at Alberton Oval on Sunday. Picture: AAP/Emma Brasier

Lokan described the Port victory as good one particularly considering how good the Norwood side has been over the last five or more years.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game and it was very pleasing to be able to get away with a really good win in the end, it was an important game for our season,” he said.

While Norwood coach Jarrad Cotton was proud of the effort his injury-marked team displayed.

“We’ve still got a good six or seven players in our best 18 to come back but for now, it’s a great opportunity for those kids to get a game,” he said.

“You want to win every game you play, but again I was really happy with their effort … I thought we held our own for large chunks of the game.”