SANFL Port Adelaide gives West a trouncing - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 31 May 1992 (original) (raw)

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Sun 31 May 1992 - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995)
Page 11 - SANFL Port Adelaide gives West a trouncing

ADELAIDE: Port Adelaide continued to assert its

superiority in the South Australian National Football

League yesterday, trouncing West Adelaide by 59 points

to notch its eighth consecutive victory.

With part-time Adelaide Crow Darren Smith kicking

seven goals, the Magpies blasted themselves three

games clear of their nearest rivals on the ladder, win

ning 22.13 (145) to 12.14(86).

Skilful forward Mark Russell booted six goals in

Glenelg's commanding 40-point win over the Eagles,

A powerful North Adelaide crushed South Adelaide

by 80-points, 25.12 (162) to 12.8 (80), condemning the

Panthers to their fifth loss in a row.

Norwood climbed to fourth place with an 89-point

demolition of Sturt, 23.14 (152) to 9.9 (63) with the

hapless Blues last experiencing victory in early April.

Central District had the bye.

Approaching the season's half-way mark, Port Ade

laide has taken on an air of invincibility, dismissing

second-placed West with arrogance.

Darren Smith's aerial supremacy provided a consis

tent avenue of attack, and Nathan Buckley was promi

nent, shredding his way through the Bloods' defcnce.

Rohan Smith, who struggled last year with St Kilda,

chipped in with three goals, while Crows' rover David

Brown showed no signs of injury problems that have

hampered his AFL career this year.

The Magpie defence was watertight, with George

Fiacchi repelling attacks and Julian Burton turning

Port spearhead Mark Tylor was strangely quiet, kick

ing only just two goals, testament more to the form of

opponent Glenn Goss rather than his own lack of form.

West's captain Leon Grosser tried to spark his side

into action, despite the nimble Shane Fitzsimmons

showing glimpses of ability.

Port coach John Cahill has a lot of talent to work with

as a nest of eager youngsters blend in with some stars of

yesteryear, such as ex-Collingwood follower Mark Wil

liams and former Melbourne defender Danny Hughes.

The Magpies slumped to fifth last year after three

successive flags from 1988-90, but look set to continue

as the SANFL's most successful club.