Adelaide's Toby Murray celebrates a goal in his team's win against Port in the Round 15 SANFL Showdown. Picture - James Elsby
Port’s Dylan Williams booted a match-high six goals. Picture – James Elsby
Adelaide slipped and slided its way to an inaccurate 15-point win against Port Adelaide in the Round 15 SANFL Showdown at Adelaide Oval.
It was far from pretty for the Crows but that won’t matter as they banked the premiership points to strengthen their grip on a double chance in September.
Under pressure from the Magpies – desperate to keep their final five hopes alive – early in the contest, Matthew Wright’s charges held sway with possession, marks and inside 50s.
But Adelaide couldn’t make it count on the scoreboard as they left the Pies in the contest by kicking a total of 12.22 (94) to Port’s 12.7 (79).
The Magpies got within nine points when Bailey Chamberlain finished on the run from 25m under pressure but Crow Jay Boyle sealed the result three minutes later with a long range finish.
Adelaide booted a staggering nine behinds in succession during the third quarter before big man Kieran Strachan kicked a set shot on the three quarter-time siren.
Crows midfielders Matt Crouch (36 disposals), Harry Schoenberg (28 disposals) and, Billy Dowling (23 disposals) and Boyle (25 disposals, one goal) caused plenty of headaches.
Utility Luke Nankervis was always in the game with his 26 disposals and an eye-catching goal over his head midway through the fourth term for the Crows.
Strachan kicked two goals while Chris Burgess continued his potency with three majors for Adelaide.
Port held on grimly given it lost Benny Barrett to a suspected ankle injury at the main change while Rory Atkins didn’t take part in the second half as an emergency for the Power’s AFL line-up.
Will Lorenz opened his team’s account with a major on the run inside the first 16 seconds of the match before racking up 35 disposals and nine clearances for the Pies while Mani Liddy was solid again with 27 disposals, eight clearances, nine tackles and a goal.
Dylan Williams continued his red hot form in front of goal to boot a game-high six majors, just a fortnight after he bagged seven in Port’s loss to Sturt at Alberton.
Adelaide’s Kieran Strachan gets his kick away under pressure. Picture – James Elsby
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