SANFL 2006 ROUND 23:
PORT ADELAIDE v NORTH ADELAIDE
Roosters playing hard ball
By JEFF CRAWFORD
DISCIPLINE was the difference between
While the Roosters certainly had the better of umpiring decisions, the
main reason was their attack on the ball, superior tackling and constant
pressure forcing the Magpies into error.
The Magpies' frustration led them to giving away blatant frees and
several 25m penalties, and the Roosters hurt them on the scoreboard.
The wet, blustery conditions weren't conducive to high marking, so it
came down to the domination of the Roosters' runners - Darryl Wintle, Leigh Ryswyk, Matt Campbell,
Shaun Gatto and Daniel Ebert - to swing the game.
Incessant attack during the second quarter did just that, North kicking
seven unanswered goals which virtually put the game out of Port's reach in such
inclement weather.
The Magpies' attack was well beaten for the most of the night, dangerman Clive Waterhouse nullified by young defender
Andrew McIntyre, while at the other end of the ground hard-working Roosters
centre-half-forward Clint Alleway became a key target
and set up opportunities for smaller forwards, such as Heath Younie and Chris Ladhams.
After the long break it became an even tussle, although the Roosters'
inaccuracy was partly the reason the game didn't become a blow-out.
Jeremy Clayton was one of the few four-quarter contributors for Port
and stamped his class on the game with a brilliant last quarter, proving
elusive and hard to stop in Port's open forward line, but he can't be expected
to win games off his own boot.
The only headache for Andrew Jarman was
injuries to Daniel Hargraves, Luke Ivens and Josh
Coulter, but he has plenty of depth and will consider Nick Gill, Luke White,
Stephen Koops, Matt Krieg
and Owen Weatherly for this Sunday's Qualifying Final against Central District.
Tim Ginever has more probems
on his plate, having been soundly beaten by the two top sides over the past
fortnight and facing a confident
SCORES:
BEST: North – Wintle,
Ryswyk, Alleway, Younie, Ladhams, Campbell, Howard;
Port – J. Clayton, Biasci, Baird, King, M. Clayton.
GOALS: North – Ladhams,
Younie 4, Alleway, Howard, Ryswyk, Hargraves 2, Edwards, Bamford,
M. Campbell, D.Ebert; Port – Poulton, Jenner, J. Clayton 3, M.
Clayton 2, Waterhouse, Dolling, Biasci, Morrison, Looby.