SANFL 2006 ROUND 16: PORT
ADELAIDE v NORTH ADELAIDE
We can improve, says Jars
By ERIC WELTNER
After faltering late during the previous two seasons to miss out on a
top-three finish, North appears assured of the double-chance this time around.
Woodville-West Torrens continues to apply the pressure for top spot,
with both North and the Eagles three games plus pecentage clear of third-placed Central District.
The superior pace of the Roosters was evident from the first minute,
when Leigh Ryswyk accelerated past Jared Poulton to boot the opening goal.
Fifteen goals were kicked during an entertaining first quarter
shootout, with the red-and-whites continuing to attack despite falling behind
late in the stanza.
North's narrow quarter-time lead turned into a match-winning one by
half-time, adding a further six goals while hardly allowing Port's forwards a
sniff.
North's firepower was too much for the Magpie defence to handle, with
key forwards Daniel Hargraves and Nick Gill booting five goals apiece.
The likes of Crow-listed Ian Perrie,
returning from injury, and first-game recruit Clint Alleway,
look set to add a further dimension of danger for opposition defences.
After the game coach Andrew Jarman said his
charges still had room for improvement, but was happy with the result against
Port.
“We're just setting a standard that hasn't been around the club for a
long time, and the players are doing that on the track and on game day,” he
said.
SCORES:
BEST: North – Ladhams, Ivens,
Gill, Ryswyk, Younie, Bamford; Port –
Harry, King, Slattery,
GOALS: North – Hargraves, Gill 5, Younie, Bamford 2, Ladhams, Campbell, Perrie, Ryswyk, Howard, Alleway, O'Hara,
Walker; Port – Waterhouse 3, Harry, Poulton, Meiklejohn, Ah Chee, J.Clayton, Slattery, Davis,
Baird.