Round 16
	V
Kangaroos 14.15 (99)		Port Adelaide 10.10 (70)

Port Adelaide has dropped its fourth match of the year, a 29-point loss to the Kangaroos at Optus Oval.

It was the Power’s ninth straight defeat to the Kangaroos who remain the only club not to have lost to Port Adelaide since the Power entered the AFL in 1997. Mark Williams’ dire warnings before the game proved to be right with Port running out of legs on what was the side’s third straight game away from Football Park.

The victory keeps the Roos’ finals hopes well and truly alive, taking their record this season to 9-7, while the Power remain on top but could be joined by Brisbane on 12 wins if the Lions beat Sydney on Sunday.

However this was a poor performance from the Power, who barely had a good player apart from tireless skipper Matthew Primus.

The Roos in contrast were inspirational particularly after the loss of the brilliant Harvey at the 19 minute mark of the second quarter with what appeared to be a dislocated shoulder.

At that stage one of the top fancies in the Brownlow Medal had already wracked up 15 possessions and was clearly the Roos’ best player.

And when the Power kicked six goals to four in the third term to cut the margin to five points at the last change, it appeared the loss of Harvey would cost the Roos’ victory.

But in a trademark gutsy last quarter performance the Roos held Port scoreless as Mark Williams’ side tired badly in what was its third successive match on the road.

The Roos had heroes galore with skipper Anthony Stevens inspirational all day while his banana goal just before half-time was one of the goals of the year.

In attack both Sav Rocca and the much-improved Digby Morrell kicked three goals apiece while in defence Glen Archer was magnificent in keeping Port spearhead Warren Tredrea goalless despite the fact he was conceding both height and weight to the big key forward.

Veteran full-back Mick Martyn did a similar fine blanketing job in keeping Chad Cornes goalless as Port’s most dangerous forward was midfielder Roger James, whose three third quarter goals threatened to bring the Power back into the game after the Roos had clearly been the better team in the first half.

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