The Serve

Port overrun depleted West Coast

Port Adelaide is one win away from the grand final, after withstanding a brave West Coast Eagles to win 9.14.68 to 9.11.65 at AAMI Stadium.

The Eagles strangled their inexperienced opponents in the first two and a half quarters, to lead by five points at the main break and 23 just four minutes into the third term. The returning Chris Judd landing two goals within in a minute to blow the game open.

Port Adelaide slowly wound themselves back into it, with a key moment coming on the stroke of three quarter time.

Ben Cousins left the ground with a hamstring problem. He was immediately carried into the dressing sheds and played no further part. It would seem his finals are over. In an instant, Daniel Motlop took a storming mark and goaled after the siren, reducing the margin to seven points.

The fourth quarter was all one way traffic, as the Power midfield ran roughshod over the tired West Coast. Judd’s lack of fitness was telling. He left the game with three minutes remaining, possession-less in the last term.

The Eagles somehow stayed in the contest. Port’s Justin Westhoff then plucked out a mark with one hand, then converting to give Port an eight point lead in what seemed like a killer blow.

The game turned again though when Eagle’s interchange player Matt Rosa missed a shot from 35m, however the umpire ruled that the Port defender had stepped on the mark, resulting in an instant 50m penalty and a goal, reducing the margin to less than a kick.

A frantic last few moments saw the ball enter the Eagles 50m, before Port steadied.

“It’s unbelievable,” Warren Tredrea told Channel Seven.

“(West Coast) probably played the better footy, bar the third quarter.”

“Not many teams rated us at the start of the year. That didn’t concern any of the boys,” Tredrea said.

The exit of Cousins was enormous, despite his reasonably low output of eleven touches.

“We knew that (he was out of the game at three quarter time). He probably hasn’t done the work that’s necessary to play in a finals game,” said Kane Cornes on Seven.

The Eagles will play the winner of the Collingwood/Sydney elimination final next Friday night at Subiaco.

At fulltime, Port coach Mark Williams was told his wife Pauline had given birth to the couple’s fifth child. Williams was immediately escorted to hospital.