Power enjoys clean sweep over Sturt, Magpies

PORT Adelaide has toppled both Sturt and the Port Adelaide Magpies in trial matches at Alberton on Saturday afternoon.

The undermanned Double Blues stunned the home side in a heated opening period in the early game to be within a point at the first break.

But the Power clicked into gear in the second and third terms and slammed on 11 goals to Sturt’s two behinds to run out emphatic 75-point winners 14.12 (96) to 3.3 (21).

In the later game, the Power triumphed over their SANFL cousins
11.12 (78) to 4.5 (29)

The Power appeared a touch rusty and Steve Salopek, who started at half-back, vented his frustration by engaging in a melee with opponent Jake Myles.

Daniel Motlop, who has stacked on seven kilograms over the summer, proved as elusive as ever and recorded Port Adelaide’s first goal courtesy of a free kick.

His younger cousin Marlon Motlop and teammate Nathan Krakouer looked polished across half-back and helped repel the defiant Sturt attack.

Veterans Brendon Lade and Peter Burgoyne turned back the clock with dazzling displays in the midfield, but the Power failed to capitalise with four-straight behinds before Justin Westhoff’s second broke the drought.

Rookie Wade Thompson drew comparisons to former premiership star Byron Pickett with his hard-nosed attack on the footy and his two goals extended the Power’s lead to 30 points.

Another rookie, Daniel Stewart, and exciting forward Glenn ‘Cougar’ Dawson got involved up forward and helped set up majors to Lade and Brett Ebert.

The Power started the third and final period 43 points up and continued their total dominance, booting five goals to Sturt’s two points.

Daniel Motlop slotted his third and nearly registered an early goal of the year contender with an off-target miracle from the boundary line.

Rookie Danny Meyer kicked a goal in his Power debut and Salopek’s first ensured a 75-point win to the Power.

The 6000-strong Alberton crowd was divided as the second game between the two Port Adelaide teams started in a similar, willing fashion to the first.

Warren Tredrea, Dean Brogan and David Rodan joined the fray as just three of the more than 120 players to rotate off the interchange benches throughout the course of the day.

Young Magpies duo Terry Milera and Sam Mardling got the SANFL side on the scoreboard, but the Daniel Motlop show rolled on at the other end.

Motlop added two goals in the opening term to take his tally for the day to five and subsequent majors to ball magnet Tom Logan and a new look Nick Salter gave the Power a handy break.

Ex-Richmond pair Rodan and Meyer turned it on to keep the Power in front in the tight second term. Meyer, a former first-round draft pick, landed his second long-range goal for the afternoon and excited fans with a giant leap over his opponent on the wing.

Young ruckman Matthew Lobbe, who played for the Power against Sturt in the first game, switched guernseys and went head-to-head with Brogan and draftee Jarrad Redden in the centre square.

The experienced Brogan took the honours and rubbed the advantage in with a lucky, bouncing goal helping the Power to a 22-point buffer at the final change.

The final term provided some controversy in the form of the first ‘deliberate rushed behind’ interpretation of the day.

The high-flying Dawson was rewarded with a free kick following a rushed Magpies’ behind. The high-flying debutant converted with a snap across his body and, in doing so, finally broke the Magpies’ spirit.

Further goals to debutant Mitch Banner, Warren Tredrea and Lower and a sealed a comprehensive 49-point victory for the Power.