PORT ADELAIDE 4.4 7.7 14.14 17.16 (118)

GOLD COAST 2.5 7.6 7.8 10.10 (70)

Valiant Port Adelaide have beaten the out-of-form Gold Coast by 48 points at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.

Gold Coast, who re-signed under-fire coach Guy ‘Bluey’ McKenna the day before the game, went into the contest knowing they would have to give their all against the brave Power.

Unfortunately, what transpired for the Suns was another loss, and ultimate retribution for Port who were memorably the first side to lose to the Gold Coast in 2011.

The game got off to a rather slow start, with the Suns limiting the Power to just an 11-point lead by the end of the first quarter. They than managed to reduce the deficit to a meagre point at the big break.

The nightmare began after half-time. Port Adelaide put on seven unanswered goals along with seven behinds; while the Suns could only manage two points.

Three early goals were not enough for the Suns in the last quarter with their resurgence being stifled by misses from Gary Ablett and Josh Caddy.

Kane Cornes starred once again for Port in a tagging role. With brother Chad doing well at GWS, Kane restricted Ablett to just 24 touches – even managing to accumulate the same himself.

Brad Ebert once again silenced his critics by picking up 29 touches and slamming home two goals. Speedster Danyle Pearce wasn’t far behind with 28 and a goal, while the in-demand Travis Boak finished a 28-disposal game with three majors next to his name.

For Gold Coast, despite the best efforts of their captain and young guns, the injury-hit team from the North sit on 0 wins and 9 defeats – rock bottom if it weren’t for the woeful Melbourne.

Re-signing Bluey was a bold move after the board apparently demanded at least 6 wins at the start of the year – and they’ll be hoping that the stability the signing promotes will benefit the side in the long-term.

Harley Bennell was once again promising for the Suns, the number two NAB draft selection racked up 25 touches in a losing side.

Number three pick Sam Day booted three goals, but could have had more if not for some poor kicking and bizarre choices made with the ball in his mitts.

Brent Renouf belted Zac Smith in the ruck, and ‘tough man’ Campell Brown was ineffective with just 12 touches.

VOTES:

3) – Travis Boak (Port)

2) – Brad Ebert (Port)

1) – Sam Day (GC)

GOALS

Port Adelaide: Boak 3, Broadbent 2, Brad Ebert 2, Brett Ebert 2, McCarthy, Pearce, Schulz, D.Stewart, Trengove, Westhoff
Gold Coast: Day 3, McQualter 2, Ablett, Brown, Horsley, Rischitelli, Sexton

BEST
Port Adelaide: Boak, Pearce, Cornes, Brad Ebert, Broadbent, Renouf
Gold Coast: Day, McQualter, Lynch, Stanley, Iles

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
Gold Coast: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Paul Stewart replaced Daniel Stewart in the third quarter
Gold Coast: Alik Magin replaced Karmichael Hunt in the third quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Foot, Jeffery, Mollison

Official crowd: 12,416 at Metricon Stadium