Port Melbourne has been bundled out of the Foxtel Cup, suffering a 53-point defeat at the hands of SANFL top team West Adelaide.
Port Melbourne had 10 changes from their Round 8 clash versus Williamstown, with a number of Development League players and those returning from injury given much needed match time. The likes of Dean Galea, John Baird, Sam Pleming, Wayde Skipper, Chris Cain and Josh Scipione could only look on from the sidelines as their side fell away in the second half; the Bloods kicking 12 goals to four to run away with the win.
The 'home' side Port made the best start possible at the MCG kicking three unanswered goals to begin the game. Danny Hughes and Shane Valenti - both returning from injury before the Round 9 bye - had the Borough on the board in the first term, along with youngster Nick Papaleo. With the margin quickly out to 18 points, a familiar face to VFL fans in former Werribee Tiger Travis Tuck got West Adelaide on the scoreboard and at quarter time Port Melbourne led by 13 points.
The second term was goal for goal as neither side was able to kick consecutive majors in a toughly fought out beginning to the quarter. Sam O'Sullivan and Hughes were both able to answer goals from their opponents, but late in the term West Adelaide got the advantage, kicking the final two goals of the term to draw scores level at half time at 5.3.33 apiece.
The second half was all West Adelaide as the equal top team in the SANFL in 2013 dismantled Port Melbourne. The visitors kicked the first four goals of the second half to race out to a 20-point lead, leaving Port to play catch up football. Despite two late goals to Billy Burstin, Port Melbourne trailed by 27 points at three quarter time.
Unlike some of the final term comebacks that have been customary for Port Melbourne fans over the years, West Adelaide ensured victory was theirs with a crushing final term. The Bloods lead ballooned out to 64 points as they kicked the first six goals of the final term; ruckman Peter Nelson damaging finishing with four goals and 19 hitouts. Two late goals again by Port Melbourne to end the game with Hughes kicking his third a Damian Mascitti his first, reduced the final margin to 53 points.
While nothing separated the teams at half time, West Adelaide dominated the second half kicking 12 goals to four to make their way into the semi-finals of the Foxtel Cup.
For Port Melbourne, their major goal scorer was Danny Hughes with three goals, while he was among their best with Billy Burstin (two goals), Julian Rowe and Tom Gordon. Peter Nelson led the goal scoring for West Adelaide with four, with Jono Beech kicking three, and two each to Tom Keough, Travis Tuck and Tom Schott.
Werribee remains the only VFL team left in the Foxtel Cup, and they will head to WA on Tuesday July 9 to take on East Fremantle for a spot in the Foxtel Cup Grand Final on August 6.
WEST ADELAIDE 1.1 5.3 11.7 17.9 (111)
PORT MELBOURNE 3.2 5.3 7.4 9.4 (58)
BEST – West Adelaide: Tuck, Anderson, Macreadie, Nelson, Silverlock, Moran, Beech, Fielke.
Port Melbourne: Rowe, Burstin, Hughes, Muling, Valenti.
GOALS – West Adelaide: Nelson 4, Beech 3, Schott, Keough, Tuck 2, Fielke, Macreadie, Homburg, Smith.
Port Melbourne: Hughes 3, Burstin 2, Valenti, S. O’Sullivan, Papaleo, Mascitti.
Last Modified on 12/06/2013 09:51