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Port powers to big AFL win over Melbourne

3 minute read

Veteran midfielder Travis Boak and young gun Mitch Georgiades starred as Port Adelaide bounced back to winning ways with a 51-point AFL belting of Melbourne.

TRAVIS BOAK
TRAVIS BOAK Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Rising star Mitch Georgiades kicked three goals as AFL ladder leaders Port Adelaide bounced back to form with a thumping 51-point win over Melbourne on Thursday night.

Travis Boak and Ollie Wines led the way in a dominant Power midfield unit in the first of four games in 16 days for the club amid the competition's fixture squeeze.

First-round draft pick Georgiades was one of eight goal kickers for Port Adelaide in the 12.11 (83) to 4.8 (32) victory at the Gabba as they recovered from last week's shock defeat to St Kilda in fine style.

"We played as well as we probably could tonight and we don't want to be that response team, but it's better to respond than not," Power coach Ken Hinkley said.

"We've had a pretty positive first nine weeks of the season, so it was good for the boys.

"We needed to be stronger around the contest and we certainly were against a really strong midfield and an elite ruckman (Max Gawn)."

It was a familiar tale for Melbourne as they let themselves down with a deplorable skill level across the ground that made life difficult for their leading forwards.

Tall trio Tom McDonald, Sam Weideman and Luke Jackson were picked to give the Demons multiple marking targets in attack but had limited impact.

Most of the blame lay further up the ground as a succession of turnovers left the forwards and coach Simon Goodwin frustrated.

Christian Petracca had 24 disposals but was part of an on-ball division that repeatedly butchered the ball and was well beaten.

Making matters worse for the Dees, key midfielder Clayton Oliver was reported for striking after he caught Peter Ladhams high with a late elbow.

"That's as poor a performance we've put on this year," Goodwin said.

"For the majority of the year we've improved our method, improved our stability and improved a lot of things, but tonight was unacceptable.

"We clearly got beaten by a pretty good team, but it was the way we got beaten (that was disappointing).

"All phases of the game were just not to the level."

Cleaner and faster ball movement on the outside gave the Power good scoring opportunities all night and they made most of them count.

Connor Rozee and Justin Westhoff complemented Georgiades with two goals each.

Boak had 25 disposals, eight clearances and a goal despite hurting his right shoulder, which was already strapped, during the third quarter.

Gawn won his aerial battle with Port's back-up ruckman Ladhams but the Demons failed to make it count and were smashed in inside 50s (47-31).

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