by Booney » Mon May 12, 2025 11:04 am
Typically Showdown crowds are fever pitch from the opening bounce but Saturday night had a quiet calm about it that was unnerving for the most part that was until the last 3 minutes when Adelaide held off a fast finishing Port Adelaide to win Showdown 57 by 5 points.
Early on there were ominous signs for the home crowd as Adelaide had the early ascendancy and looked dangerous in doing so. 7 inside 50's but worryingly 4 marks, Thilthorpe looked too big and too strong and the pre game synopsis seemed accurate, Adelaide's scoring power would be the difference on the back of their clearance work but this wasn't to be. With goals to Finlayson, Georgiades and Byrne-Jones on the back of Port leading clearances 10-5. Adelaide scoring in a different manner with all of their 22 points and 3 point quarter time lead on the back of turnovers. Port needed to tidy up.
Some notable match ups with Bergman trailing Dawson in the middle and Lachie Jones lining up on Walker inside Adelaide forward 50. The second term was more of an arm wrestle, 4 lead changes and Adelaide 5 points for the good at half time. During that term Adelaide were super efficient, 10 inside 50's resulting in 8 scores while Port went in 14 times for 6 score. Despite Adelaide having the lead momentum and general game play felt like it was in Ports keeping. Finlayson was offering something forward, Visentini was sound up against O'Brien and Rozee was best on with 15 touches to half time.
The third term went up a notch, Adelaide in particular brought the heat leading tackles 28-19 for the term, that though was on the back of Port once again winning the clearance battle, Butters had 6 himself for the night by this time, Port won them by 9 that term and had 17 inside 50's to 10. Once again though poor efficiency inside 50 costing Port Adelaide. 3.3 to 3 straight and a couple of misses, Bergman and Byrne-Jones with gettable shots hurting as the game was set for a 30 minute frenzy.
The crowd was still oddly subdued, perhaps Adelaide fans thinking they'd drop one as hot favorite and I know Port fasn were thinking we'd shot out shot. A. On the back of some centre clearance Fogarty took the lead out to 9 points, Rankine hardly sighted popped up for one and within a minute had his second and only impact of the night soccering through a major to extend the lead to 21 points and it seemed to all be over.
A string of 4 consecutive points to Port gave the feeling that the chances had been wasted and opportunity was lost but Byrne-Jones got his second, Finlayson got his third and with under 3 minutes the contest was back under a goal. Keane, who barely knows the rules held firm in defence and Adelaide hold on by 5 points in what adds to the long catalogue of Showdown thrillers.
Boon's best - Rozee, Butters, Finlayson, Wines, Jones, Byrne-Jones, Bergman
For Adelaide - Thilthorpe, Peatling, Keays, Fogarty, Keane
If you want to go quickly, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together.