Source :- THE AGE NEWS
That’s all for tonight. Thanks so much for joining us throughout Super Saturday.
We will be back tomorrow afternoon for our Sunday AFL live blog to cover the Saints v Swans, and the annual Blues v Bombers clash at the MCG.
Please join us then. Bye for now.
Star West Coast defender Reuben Ginbey has been cut down by a quad injury as Port Adelaide snapped a four-game losing streak with a pulsating six-point AFL win at Optus Stadium.
In a nail-biting finish to Saturday night’s match, West Coast came from 22 points behind late in the third quarter to close the margin to four points with three minutes remaining.
The ball lived in West Coast’s forward line for most of the last quarter, and the Eagles had their chances to snatch the lead.
But Port were able to finally clear the ball from their defence in the final two minutes of the game, with Mitch Georgiades kicking a point after the final siren to make it a six-point win, 11.11 (77) to 10.11 (71), in front of 47,479 fans.
The Power have just held on in a thrilling finish over the Eagles at Optus Stadium. The Eagles seemingly had all the play in those final stages, but the Power had the composure and the hardness at the contest right when they needed it most – despite being out on their feet with no interchange moves left (they’d used all their 75 available).
Final: Port Adelaide win 11.11 (77) to 10.11 (71)
Andrew McQualter’s side is growing in confidence with every quarter, let alone every game. They’re just four points adrift with about two-and-a-half minutes remaining, and they’re playing an irresistible brand of footy, while the Power are just trying to save a game they’ve led all night.
Again, Tom Cole had only kicked six goals in his whole career up until tonight. Now he’s got two for the evening after a thumping long bomb. What a night to remember for the Eagles’ favourite son if his side can come back from here.
Jake Waterman then took a huge grab about 25 metres out on a slight angle, but he missed his set shot to the left.
The Power still lead by seven points with just under seven minutes remaining.
No sooner had Jake Waterman slotted his third that the Power were in open space streaming forward, Jason Horne-Francis on the end of an irresistible play to slot his own third goal.
The Power now lead by 14 points once again.
Jake Waterman is imposing his will on this contest at Optus Stadium – his 18th disposal his most telling so far.
The big forward calmly snapped around his body to slot his third goal and get his side to within eight points at the midway stage of the final term.
Waterman now has 18 disposals, 10 marks and three goals to his name.
The Power lead 10.9 (69) to 9.7 (61)
Tom Cole had only kicked six goals in his career until tonight, having played 137 matches as a defender-occasional midfielder.
But the 29-year-old 2018 premiership player has just slammed a long bomb home to keep the Eagles firmly within reach at the end of the third term.
3QT: Port Adelaide lead West Coast 10.9 (69) to 8.5 (53).
West Coast young guns Harley Reid, Jobe Shanahan and Willem Duursma just showed why the future is so bright for their side – combining for a brilliant end-to-end goal. Duursma kept his composure to pounce on a loose ball inside 50, slamming the ball home.
On the injury front, it wasn’t a hamstring injury for Reuben Ginbey, after all. He did his quad when giving chase to Mitch Georgiades earlier, and that’s arguably worse news. Again, fingers crossed it’s not a severe one because that could mean an extended period out of the game.
Port Adelaide lead 8.8 (56) to 7.5 (47) with about five minutes left in the third term.
Star Eagles defender Reuben Ginbey has seemingly done his hamstring in hot pursuit of Mitch Georgiades as he ran into an open goal five minutes into the third term at Optus Stadium.
Ginbey’s off the ground and heading down to the rooms. Let’s hope he doesn’t miss too much footy.
With about 14 minutes left in the third, the Power lead 8.7 (55) to 6.4 (40).
