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Port sink Swans to rise into AFL top eight

3 minute read

Port Adelaide are in the AFL top's eight after a 47-point win against Sydney at Adelaide Oval.

CHARLIE DIXON of the Power celebrates a goal during the AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the Port Adelaide Power at Mars Stadium in Ballarat, Australia.
CHARLIE DIXON of the Power celebrates a goal during the AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the Port Adelaide Power at Mars Stadium in Ballarat, Australia. Picture: Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images

Coach Ken Hinkley can feel momentum building at Port Adelaide as they climb into the AFL's top eight.

Hinkley's charges dismantled Sydney by 47 points in a Saturday slog at a rain-swept Adelaide Oval.

The result lifts Port into eighth spot on the ladder - they're equal on wins and 0.3 per cent ahead of Adelaide.

Should the Crows lose to West Coast on Sunday in Perth, Hinkley's Power will hold the finals-bound spot at the end of the round.

"It doesn't really matter that much right now," Hinkley said after Port's clinical 15.13 (103) to 7.14 (56) win over the injury-depleted Swans.

"Right now, we're still in the fight - and it's a real fight still, isn't it?

"As a group, they have faced their challenges, but we believe in what we're capable of - we just haven't done it as often as we would like.

"We're building a little bit of momentum."

Port, with Connor Rozee and Charlie Dixon booting three goals apiece, kicked 11 goals to four after quarter-time to trounce the Swans.

The Power ruthlessly cashed in on Sydney's lean ruck stocks, winning hitouts 49-24.

Port's ruck tandem of Paddy Ryder and Peter Ladhams overwhelmed Sydney four-gamer Hayden McLean, Sam Reid and Aliir Aliir.

"It was 0-20 centre bounce hitouts," Swans coach John Longmire said.

Longmire's stats showed his side won just one centre-bounce clearance in a second half in which Port scored 8.6 to 3.4.

"That is all we have got: we have got a couple of (ruck) blokes who haven't played much footy there or haven't played much footy for the year."

The Power's centre-square control resulted in a 68-37 inside-50 dominance and, ultimately, the lopsided scoreline.

That Swans remain anchored in 15th spot, with coach Longmire using the remainder of the season as a head-start for next year.

"It's about making sure that we set our team and (not) waiting until next year until we get going, or a pre-season before we get going," Longmire said.

"We can do that at the back end of the year. And we have been pretty good at that as far as doing some things we think can really help us next year.

"One of the things we didn't do well today was keep pushing in the second half."

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