Print this pageIT took a game-saving, seven-goal haul from key Daniel Hargraves, but Port Adelaide held on for its second win of the season against West Adelaide, Saturday.
Though West - and the Adelaide Football Club - will today measure the fallout of the Bloods' loss after AFL-listed ruckman Brad Moran left Alberton Oval hobbled with a back injury just minutes into the contest.
In a match between last and second last on the SANFL ladder, Port responded to two late charges by West Adelaide and welcomed back veteran forward Clive Waterhouse with a fighting, gritty performance.
The Magpies seemed in total control midway through the third term but the Bloods - going against their season trend of vanishing after half-time - responded bravely to come within 11 points in time-on in the last term.
Fittingly Hargraves, who finished with 7.2 to take his season tally to 25 goals, slotted the sealer before Waterhouse - returning from a year on the sidelines following knee surgery - iced the victory with just four seconds to play.
``That's something we've been a victim of a few times so it was nice to hang in there and win tough,'' Magpies coach Tim Ginever said.
``Westies had a real crack today I was happy we were able to in win that tight situation because that will give them (the players) some confidence next time we come up against that. To win a close one and show that sort of spirit to hang on is important and now we can start to develop that.''
After a tight first half that saw seven lead changes Port took control with five unanswered goals in the second and third terms.
But the Bloods, so easily swatted away after the break in the opening rounds this season, refused to fold.
Small forward Salim Hassan sparked his side - and threatened to carry it to victory - with a superb closing quarter.
The 175cm goalsneak had managed just four behinds until late in the third quarter but booted two in the final stanza and set up another as West Adelaide slashed a 28-point deficit to 11 by red-time in the last.
Twice more the Bloods turned over the ball inside attacking 50 until they were overwhelmed by the home side.
``Our stoppage work was better today but our foot skills still hurt us,'' West Adelaide coach Andy Collins said.
``But they're trying and I felt today we're straightened up and for the very first time we played the game out. We played four quarters, that's the real positive.''
Hargraves kept up his astonishing conversion rate of late in the first half, booting four goals with his first four kicks including one from deep in the northern-end pocket.
For West Adelaide young Hamish Hartlett looked a likely forward option. The 17-year-old, playing just his fourth senior game, finished with 3.3 in an impressive display.
PORT ADELAIDE 3.3 7.7 13.10 17.12 (114)
WEST ADELAIDE 3.5 6.7 9.11 13.12 (90)
Goals - Port: Hargraves 7, Clayton 4, Waterhouse 2, Ah Chee, Rugolo, Perry, Krakouer. West: Hassan, Hartlett 3, Fisher 2, Ezard, Bailey, Munn, Willits, Martin.
Best - Port: J Clayton, Krakouer, Summerton, Dolling, Hargraves, Elstone. West: Brown, Willits, Rowe, Hartlett, Hassan, Cupido, Bailey.
Injuries - Port: Carr (hamstring), M Clayton (hamstring), Rugolo (hamstring). West: Moran (back).
Umpires: Cousins, Fila, Kowal.
Courtesy of AdelaideNow
Story by Scott Walsh