WIZARD CUP Grand Final
	V
Port Adelaide 10.11 (71)		Richmond 9.8 (62)

Port Adelaide has become the first team since Essendon in 1993-94 to win back-to-back pre-season premierships when it defeated Richmond by nine points to win the Wizard Home Loans Cup at Colonial Stadium.

In what was a dour, scrappy affair for most of the night, Port set up the win by booting four of the first five goals of the match, and then, with the match on the line at three quarter-time, three goals in as many minutes early in the final term to put the game away for good.

Port eventually prevailed 10.11 (71) to Richmond's 9.8 (62) in front of a large and noisy crowd of 36,481. Port midfielder Nick Stevens won the Michael Tuck Medal for best afield.As is often the case in pre-season football, there were no stand-out players and few dominant four-quarter players. Port got by thanks to an even contribution from its midfield and key forwards who kept bobbing up when they needed to. Warren Tredrea booted two goals for the match in an enthralling clash with emerging Tiger backman Ray Hall. He booted the first goal of the match, less than a minute into the last quarter and then another in the final term, as Port piled on the pressure.The opportunistic Peter Burgoyne also snared two for the victors, while Che Cockatoo-Collins and Stuart Dew also chimed in with singles.`

`I thought bit was a real team performance,'' Port coach Mark Williams said. ``It was a terrific game, very tight and something the AFL would have been looking for.''Port's midfield was great throughout, with Josh Francou and Stevens providing enough drive to allow the side the luxury of playing Gavin Wanganeen in the back pocket all evening. Richmond's problem, on the other hand, was a forward line that never clicked into gear until too late. Matthew Richardson booted two goals, but was generally well held by Darryl Wakelin. Richardson's best football came in the third term, when after a spell on the bench, he played in the midfield and across half-forward to good effect. Brad Ottens did well in spurts, but the Tigers will be relishing the return of former Sydney ruckman Greg Stafford, so that their two-pronged forward line can wreak some damage.Williams said the part played by Matthew Primus in the opening few minutes of the final term was critical.'

"He blew the game open for us.''Port's fast start was critical to the result. Tredrea snapped truly, followed by Burgoyne from a patented left-foot goal. Within six minutes, Port had a two-goal buffer, and until Richmond's late burst in time-on in the final quarter, the Tigers could not get closer.The Tigers did press in the third quarter. Humbled by a first half in which they managed only two goals, the Tiger backline got on top and some run was established through the midfield. At the final change, the Tigers had bridged the margin to 13 points, and with the pulsating crowd finding some voice, looked set for a big final quarter.But Port have emerged as the cold, calculated killers in the AFL and snuffed out hopes of Richmond's first night flag in just three minutes in the final quarter.

Dew snapped a goal with that raking left foot of his, followed by another from Francou and then a Tredrea mark and goal to make it five goals.There were late theatrics from the Tigers, who briefly revived hopes of an unlikely and undeserved win, but Port had been the more even and composed team throughout and deserved to win.``We didn't play that well, but only lost by nine points,'' said Richmond coach Danny Frawley. ``There is lots of improvement in us and the focus now is Collingwood.''`

`There were no points lost today, which is a bonus and there will now be a steely resolve from all of us.''

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