Port Adelaide won the small Premier League with a solid win over Collingwood at the Gabba in the final game of the home and away seasons.
Important points:
- For the third time in the history of the AFL, Port Adelaide have finished first and Brisbane second after their home and away seasons
- Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury broke a club record with his 314th AFL appearance, but lost to Port Adelaide
- The Power will host Geelong in the first week of the finals at the Adelaide Oval, while Collingwood will travel to Perth to face the West Coast
The Force led the ladder for the entire season, but the pressure was on as Brisbane was ready to reach the top if Ken Hinkley’s men slipped.
Although Port Adelaide was challenged hard at an early stage, he was able to take control in the third quarter before the winners fell with 9.7 (61) to 7.3 (45).
This is the fourth time the small Premier League has taken power – on two of those occasions (2002 and 2004) they took first place ahead of Lions in second.
The last time they got to the top, they won the flag – against Brisbane.
They are also only the third team in the AFL era to sit on the ladder for the entire home and away season, after West Coast in 1991 and Essendon in 2000.
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The Power will now host Geelong in a qualifying final at Adelaide Oval, while Collingwood’s loss means they will face the daunting task of traveling to Perth to face West Coast in an elimination final.
A highlight at the Gabba was Tom Rockliff’s 30 disposal display for Port Adelaide.
Magpies captain Scott Pendlebury starred in his record breaking 314th appearance with 23 departures and seven clears, while Taylor Adams and Adam Treloar also won a lot of ball.
But it was Rockliff who fought the longest and hardest as Port prevailed in a dragging competition largely controlled by the competition’s top two defenses.
The Force kicked the first two goals and Collingwood the next two in a tight first term that was a clue of what was to come.
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Pendlebury had a huge early influence with four clearances in the first quarter, but neither side was willing to open the field with bold ball movements instead of opting for a patient build-up game.
There were four changes in leadership in the second term and two in the third before Daniel Motlop’s brilliant shot fell to the outside of his right shoe.
Another goal for Sam Powell-Pepper, set up by Robbie Gray, gave Port 17 points clear.
Before nine months, big moments went against Collingwood when Jamie Elliott’s indecision and a free kick against Mason Cox cost them certain goals that could have narrowed their lead.
After half-time, the harbor dominated the inside clears and although Collingwood controlled the field position last season, the Magpies were unable to close the gap on the scoreboard.
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Dan Houston (24 departures, 12 marks) was brilliant for power when Ollie Wines, Travis Boak and Rockliff competed.
Gray (25 exits, seven clears) showed brilliant flashes and the defense under the leadership of Tom Jonas and Trent Mackenzie held on.
Motlop and Brad Ebert ended a two-goal game in which the big strikers struggled to assert themselves.
Brody Mihocek (two) was Collingwood’s only multi-goal kicker.
ABC / AAP
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