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Port Adelaide have won Showdown 38 with a 24 point win over the Adelaide Crows at Adelaide Oval on Sunday night.
PORT 18 7 115
CROWS 13 13 91
In front of 49,735 fans at Adelaide Oval, Port Adelaide would lead at quarter time, and hold on against a Crows outfit that wasted plenty of chances.
It all started well for the Crows as they kicked the opening two goals in front of an Adelaide dominated crowd.
That would be where the joy ended for the Crows in the first quarter as Port kicked five straight goals.
Led by Robbie Gray, and two goals to Jay Schulz, Port Adelaide would pounce on mistakes from the Crows to counter attack with style.
They led by 16 points and held on to that in the second quarter under intense pressure from the Crows.
#weareportadelaide pic.twitter.com/MtIlHD7cf4
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) May 3, 2015
Adelaide dominated the quarter but couldn’t put it on the scoreboard.
They had more inside 50’s, more time in their forwards half, and more clearances.
Unfortunately they only kicked 2.5 as the Power kicked three straight goals from their limited chances.
Schulz would kick his third to give them a 17 point lead at half time.
They would kick the first goal of the third quarter before Adelaide came roaring into the contest.
Three straight goals, including one to Betts, reduced the margin to 5 points.
That would be the closest Adelaide got as Port did enough to shut out each Crows attack over the next quarter and a half.
They would extend the lead to 19 points late in the third quarter, with three of the next four goals, before a late goal to the Crows reduced the margin to 13 at the final change.
An early goal to Scott Thompson reduced the margin to 8 points but Port kicked away again.
Two goals in a minute to Kane Mitchell ended the game and the chances of the Crows.
When Westhoff and Wingard kicked late goals to make the margin 31 they would be home.
It is Port’s 21st victory in the Showdown and they are now four games clear of the Crows.
Robbie Gray, who starred with 32 touches, won the Showdown Medal.
He was joined by Travis Boak, Brad Ebert, and Jay Schulz, who played well for the Power.
For the Crows they were led by Patrick Dangerfield and Eddie Betts.
Coach Phil Walsh conceded that they needed others to get the ball more to match the Power.
Unfortunately for them, they didn’t take their chances, as highlighted by 71 inside 50’s to 42.
They now travel to Queensland next week to take on the Suns.
Port Adelaide now have a good run of matches in the league and take on the Eagles at home on Sunday.
It’s the match that stops the state of South Australia. Who will win Showdown 38? Port Adelaide Power or the Adelaide Crows? Find out as we live scores and a blog the Showdown from 4:40pm AEST.
“If you find a sport, a game, a contest, as epic as this, give me a call.”
Those were the famous words from Adelaide born caller Dwayne Russell after the Crows defeated Port in the second Showdown last year at Adelaide Oval.
Adelaide, with their backs against the wall from fans and the media, produced one of the most stirring wins in Showdown history in front of 50,552 fans.
Three months earlier, these two teams opened the new era of football at Adelaide Oval, as Port Adelaide smashed the Crows by 55 points in front of another 50,000 plus crowd.
In South Australia this is football at its finest. Two bitter rivals smashing each other in the centre of the state.
To say these two teams dislike each other is an understatement. Both teams hate each other and every person in the state wants their team to win.
If they don’t then Monday morning becomes tough for the losing teams supporters.
The rivalry has gained larger importance since the move to Adelaide Oval. While AAMI Stadium held some classics – including the last one at the venue won by Port Adelaide – the move to Adelaide Oval have made the game bigger in the state.
Each team is now at a record membership number and each team is averaging larger crowds at the Oval than at West Lakes. A win over the rivals, on a Showdown weekend, is a must.
Heading into the game the form guides of both teams have changed in the space of two weeks. If this match was played in Round 3, the Crows would have been the favourite, after Port got beaten badly by Sydney.
Now Port are favourites after the Crows got smashed by the Western Bulldogs and they defeated the reigning premiers.
If Adelaide play like they did last week against the Bulldogs then Port should win comfortably. They had woeful kicking efficiency and allowed their opposition too much space in the corridor.
Port, after last weekend, will capitalise on that if they give them space.
Their first quarter against the Hawks was one of the best in years as they made the reigning premiers look like an under 14 team. They have made one change with Robbie Gray coming back into the 22 at the expense of Brendon Ah Chee.
Adelaide have made two changes with Kyle Cheney and Charlie Cameron coming in with Kyle Hartigan and Jarryd Lyons omitted.
The battle for this match will be won or lost in the midfield, and the half back line. Winning the midfield battle, and the running game, will be the key for both teams.
In Showdown 37, which Adelaide won, they were +30 in contested possessions and +26 in disposals.
In Showdown 36, which Port won, they were +26 in contested possessions and +7 in disposals. Winning the contested ball is a must.
Stopping the run out of half back will also be vital. If Adelaide can stop – and create mistakes from – Jasper Pittard then they will stop Port’s run.
The same applies to Port and Brodie Smith who is at the same form as last season when he made the All Australian squad.
Finally both teams will want to shut down the forward line of each team. Adelaide is the fifth best attack in the league and Port have scored an average of 107 points in their last two games.
Expect today’s game to be high scoring.
Predicting a Showdown winner is almost impossible.
Both teams lift for the occasion and it doesn’t matter where the teams are on the ladder.
The home crowd does count for something though and both home teams won last year.
Based on that I’ll lean towards the Crows to beat the Power in front of a heavily favoured Crows crowd.
Prediction: Adelaide by 1 point.
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