Round 10 Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Saturday

Port Adelaide celebrated its 1000th game at Alberton Oval by chalking up its opening win of the season against a wounded West Adelaide.

Magpies coach Hamish Hartlett steered his team to a 20-point triumph as he also enjoyed his inaugural victory and the team’s first win since defeating Sturt on July 23 last year.

With Coles Value Player Jordon Sweet dominant in the ruck, Jeremy Finlayson prominent around the ground and Tom Scully slotting four goals, the hosts’ four goals in succession midway through the final term proved decisive.

”It’s been tough for our mob but I was super proud of the boys as we all played as a team so it was great to get a reward with a win,” Finlayson told Channel 7 after the match.

A strong first quarter ensured Port would boot 6.3 with the aid of a breeze to the northern end and despite not managing a score in the second stanza, it had enough in the tank to fend off the brave Bloods.

Sweet got things rolling for his side with 43 hit outs, 15 disposals, six clearances and six tackles while Finlayson was impactful higher up the ground with 25 disposals, seven marks and a goal.

SANFL-contracted pair Murphy Short (26 disposals) and Cody Szust (24 disposals) continued their strong seasons while Lachie Jones was solid with 18 disposals and seven marks.

Port’s Hugh Jackson returned from his long-term hip injury to collect 14 disposals and a goal but gave away four 25m penalties in succession to hand West’s Dylan McCormick a simple conversion 19 minutes into the third quarter.

West’s interchange bench was resembling a casualty ward as Darcy Minchella and Jordan White forced from the field under concussion protocols, the latter involved in a collision with Port’s Charlie Dixon during the second term.

Bigman Hamish Ellem also didn’t appear after half-time while both Joel Stevens and Brady Searle finished the game under noticeable duress.

West midfielder Sam Frost was tireless in his pursuit of a win with 29 disposals, 11 clearances, 10 tackles and a goal while his sidekick Kobe Ryan had 29 disposals, eight clearances and nine tackles.

Bloods defender Josh Ryan did an admirable job of restricting Dixon to two goals, one mark and nine disposals.

Central District blew South Adelaide away in the second half to record a percentage-boosting 63-point win at X Convenience Oval.

Boasting a dominance at the clearances (44 to 33) and inside 50s (48 to 27), the Bulldogs slammed on 9.4 to the Panthers’ 1.4 after the main change to bank their seventh win of the season.

Dual Fos Williams Medallist Jez McLennan was a late withdrawal, paving the way for his younger brother Louie (16 disposals, six tackles) to look equally composed in his debut as the hosts received multiple contributions.

Magarey Medallist Harry Grant is well and truly back to his best after a knee injury, collecting 26 disposals, five clearances, 10 tackles and a goal while Rhett Montgomerie continues to impress since his late return with 17 disposals and 10 marks.

Hard running Kai Pudney had 27 disposals for the Dogs while Aiden Grace and Jake Gasper kicked three goals each.

Beau Thomas, the younger brother of Central coach Paul, continues to cement his place in the League line-up with 11 disposals, four marks, seven tackles and two goals.

South suffered defensively when co-captain Sam Skinner was off the ground at half-time with back and shoulder complaints as it laid a total of 101 tackles to the Dogs’ 70.

Kobe Mutch (28 disposals, seven clearances, 13 tackles) and Hayden Sampson (27 disposals, six clearances) tried hard in the midfield for the Panthers while Liam Fitt booted two goals.

Woodville-West Torrens recovered from a slow start to brush aside Adelaide with a 53-point win against Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.

Eagle Zac Buck booted the opening goal of the game but his team found itself trailing by 15 points at the first change as the Crows booted the next four goals of the term.

It was enough for Sam Jacobs’ charges to click into gear as they piled on 14 of the next 17 goals of the match to respond to last round’s narrow loss to Central District.

Finishing with 20 more inside 50s, 19 more clearances and 33 more tackles, the Eagles dictated terms in the second half as midfielder Adam D’Aloia continued his red-hot form.

D’Aloia racked up 29 disposals, 11 clearances and seven tackles while captain Joey Sinor made a successful return from a hamstring strain to finish with 28 disposals and seven clearances.

Eagle Riley Knight laid 13 tackles to go with 27 touches while Josh Morris continues to grow into his role at half-back nicely since returning from Hawthorn, tallying 21 disposals and seven marks.

Buck and second-gamer Jack Wheare booted three goals each for the Eagles, while Max Beattie, Luke McKay and Pat Weckert kicked two apiece.

Adelaide’s Zac Taylor battled hard for his 26 disposals while ruckman Reilly O’Brien accumulated 21 disposals, five clearances and 35 hit outs.

Crow Luke Pedlar collected 19 disposals and seven tackles while first-year draftee Daniel Curtin had 18 disposals.