Adelaide derby: nobody left at three quarter time

I have a feeling that each week Port fans have a sense that the bubble is going to burst. Over the last few years there has been many false promises.

The men from Alberton have flattered to deceive, however 2013 seems to be a different kettle of fish.

There was some confidence coming from the supporter groups of Port Adelaide.

The majority of Power fans were eyeing off the 34th showdown with quiet trepidation. David Koch was confirming the underdog status of Port suggesting that if The Crows didn’t win by 10 goals they would be disappointed.

Looking at last year’s form you would have to agree with him.

Adelaide missed out on a grand final by one kick, while Port languished near the bottom of the ladder like a work experience kid on a building site. Like most kids, Port was rather petulant, believing they deserved better treatment because of their name and history.

Port Adelaide have made a faultless start to the season dispatching Melbourne and GWS, of course the argument against going out and attaching teal ribbons to the Premiership trophy is that those teams are unlikely to be troubling the statisticians in September.

Realistic Port fans knew that rounds one and two were simply an extension of the pre-season and hosting Adelaide, a side that has been widely tipped as top four contenders, would be the first big test of the new breed from Alberton.

Adelaide slipped up against Essendon but hit back against Brisbane continuing the habit of not losing two in a row under Brenton Sanderson.

After kicking the first two goals the calls to put the champagne on ice seemed a little premature. However it looked like the forward pressure that the Power have imposed over the first two rounds would contain the team wearing amazing technicolour dream-coats.

Adelaide settled and started to take control of the first half, going into the major break 15 points up, despite the fact that Port Adelaide led in all of the key statistics.

The Crows kicked away to a 31-point lead early in the third term and you could sense the crowd wearing black and white having flashbacks to the promising starts over the last couple of years.

Then it changed.

Justin Westhoff kicked from a seemingly impossible angle, an inexplicable handball from the crows leading to a turnover and a captain’s goal from Travis Boak. Of the thirteen goals kicked in the premiership quarter the Port faithful cheered eleven of them, setting up a final term to remember.

The final quarter was a game within a game, starting all-square both teams had to dig deep. Big Sam Jacobs had been picked apart by the Port ruck pairing and looked spent. This gave the Power’s midfield the chance to really set up and push away from the Crows stretching the lead to 25 points.

Adelaide cut the margin back to 9 but Port looked comfortable through most of the fourth term.

Justin Westhoff led the scoring charts again kicking 4.4 and Chad Cornes and Boak sharing the disposal honours with 30 each.

One of great things to come out of Round 3 for Port Adelaide is the lift that the midfield has given with Chad Wingard, Boak, Angus Monfries, and Ollie Wines all kicking multiple majors throughout the game.

The never give in attitude and forward pressure is becoming a trademark of the Power under the direction of Ken Hinckley.

For Adelaide there may be some questions that need answering. Taylor Walker looked lazy, he kicked three goals but two of them were unmarked in the goal square and his lack of chase in the forward 50 meant that he isn’t living up to the hype that saw him sit in second place in a list of the best current AFL players.

Dangerfield is a fearsome runner but his disposal under pressure seems sloppy. There were a lot of skill errors from both sides, which is understandable in a derby game.

40,707 people were in attendance to see one of the greatest showdowns in recent years.

There will be a wait on Paul Stewart who was replaced by Kane Mitchell at half-time and Bernie Vince may find himself resting for a couple of weeks after his late hit on Wingard.

For the first time in recent years both teams from South Australia were equally matched, highlighted by the fact that nobody left before the final siren.

Twitter: davewebb_sa