Bays brush aside Pies

Brad McCarthy

	1st	2nd	3rd	Final	Pts
Port Adelaide	0.1	0.4	2.6	8.9	57
Glenelg	3.2	5.5	9.6	12.9	81

Alberton Oval. Crowd 2,496

By ZAC MILBANK

Glenelg kept Port Adelaide goalless for a half as it again flexed its defensive muscle with a 24-point win at Alberton Oval.

Now sitting outright top on the Statewide Super League ladder, the Bays ensured the Magpies would have a goalless first half for the first time since 2013.

Restricting the hosts to just four behinds before half-time, the Tigers set up the win with 5.5 for themsevles as star midfielder Luke Partington continued his red-hot touch with 33 disposals and four goals.

Glenelg has only conceded 925 points for the season, second to Sturt with 917 as leadership duo Chris Curran and Max Proud continue to lead the way with their composed back six.

Tackling pressure was another key feature for the Tigers, who, despite leading all afternoon, still laid 23 more tackles than their rivals to illustrate their hunger for the contest.

The visitors stretched the margin to as much as 49 points when ruckman Jesse White’s behind followed a goal from former Bays skipper Andrew Bradley early in the fourth term.

But the Magpies restored some respect into the scoreboard by booting five of the next six majors before the final siren.

Tireless Tigers Matthew Snook and classy Marlon Motlop also provided excellent assistance to Partington while youngster Brad McCarthy (pictured above) continues to evolve as a versatile player with 21 disposals and eight tackles.

Amid controlling the play against the finals-bound Magpies, Tigers coach Mark Stone was still able to keep one eye on the long term by handing Darcy Le Cornu his Statewide Super League debut as well as recalling first-year midfielder Finn Betterman for late withdrawals Cory Gregson and Elliott Chalmers.

Port’s first goal came from ruckman Sam Hayes nearly five minutes into the third quarter with fellow bigman Peter Ladhams ensuring the hosts would have two before the final change.

The last quarter fightback came too late for Magpies coach Matt Lokan, who had few players put in a four-quarter performance as they slipped out of the top-three.

Port will now be looking to respond against South Adelaide at Flinders University Stadium next Sunday while Glenelg will host Adelaide in a top-of-the-table clash against Adelaide on Saturday.

Glenelg’s Luke Partington was outstanding with 33 disposals and four goals.

LEADING DISPOSALS –

Glenelg: Partington 33, Snook 32, Motlop 26, Curran 24, McCarthy 21, Proud, Scharenberg 20, Gould, White 19, Agnew 17.

Port: Drew 30, Pudney 29, McKenzie 27, Hewett 24, Mayes, Trengove 23, Atley, Frederick 22, Woodcock 19, Ladhams 18.

GOALS –

Glenelg: Partington 4, Motlop 2, Bailey, Bradley, McBean, Reynolds, Schott, Uebergang.

Port: Hayes, Ladhams, Woodcock 2, McKenzie, Ryder.

Best -

Port: P. Ryder, M. Frederick, W. Drew, C. Hewett

Glenelg: L. Partington, J. White, C. Curran, M. Snook, M. Motlop, M. Proud

MAGAREY MEDAL VOTES -

3. Partington (G)

2. Motlop (G)

1. Snook (G)