Despite a gallant performance from South Adelaide, it wasn’t enough to stop a clinical Port Adelaide from securing a 21-point win under lights at Alberton Oval on Good Friday.

Looking to secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season, South Adelaide were put on the back foot early, conceding the first three goals of the match, which gave the home side an 18-point lead. 

Port Adelaide's ball movement consistently pressured South Adelaide's backline. However, Oscar Clavarino stood tall against the home side’s AFL-listed tall forwards.

Needing an immediate response, some of the away side’s prime movers started to find the ball, including Oliver Davis, who registered several clearances. 

After receiving a free kick at centre-half forward, Harvey Lambert expertly placed the ball in front of the leading Damon Freitag, who converted South’s first goal of the game from 40 metres out.

South’s second goal of the term came moments later, following a centre clearance from Phoenix Hargrave that resulted in a clean pick-up and a miraculous goal from Lambert near the boundary line. 

Davis continued to be prominent, dishing out a great handball to allow Blake Rodrigues to deliver an inside-50 ball to Liam Fitt, who levelled the scores after receiving a high free kick.

Corey Grocock had a great opportunity to kick his first goal of the evening after laying a strong tackle inside-50, but his set shot drifted wide, giving South Adelaide its first lead of the game. 

Minutes later, South produced another golden opportunity when Rodrigues showcased his pace to find Angus Bradley streaming back to goal. However, his gather and snap slammed into the post.

At quarter-time, nothing could separate the two sides.

The second term began much like the opening quarter, with Port Adelaide kicking a goal within the first minute of play to regain the lead. Olivier Northam battled strongly against Port’s AFL-listed rucks, laying several tackles and getting the ball forward around stoppages.

Looking for a quick response, Fitt nearly kicked his second goal of the game after receiving a handball from Noah Howes and snapping across his body, but his effort went wide.

Despite competing strongly across the ground, Port Adelaide showcased its precision ball movement, cutting through South Adelaide to create scoring opportunities. 

Following behinds from Howes and Grocock, Port Adelaide made South rue its missed chances, kicking its third straight goal to stretch its lead to 15 points.

Jaiden Magor was consistently at the heart of many of his side’s forward forays, winning clearances and spreading strongly across the ground to offer an option for teammates. 

After competing strongly in the air throughout the first half, Howes latched onto a high ball in the goal square, quickly playing on and kicking his first of the match.

The tall forward replicated his efforts minutes later, using his strength to protect the drop zone and taking a clever mark on the goal line. His second major reduced Port’s lead to a single straight kick.

As the siren sounded for half-time, South Adelaide had given themselves a strong platform to attack the second half, with the home side's advantage reduced to just five points.

South’s momentum continued at the start of the third term, with Howes again showcasing his power in the marking contest before gathering a ground ball and finishing on the run from 45 metres out. 

The away side’s lead lasted briefly after back-to-back goals from Port Adelaide’s captain, with the second coming from a free kick mere seconds after his first major.

Despite the double blow, South continued to compete strongly. Davis’ stoppage work in tight confines was brilliant, as the midfielder registered the most clearances on the ground. 

Grocock’s dancing feet nearly brought the crowd to its feet, after breaking away from a desperate defender and selling some candy, only for his effort to be smothered at the last moment.

After conceding five goals in 12 minutes, Hargrave took it upon himself to burst from the stoppage and drive the ball inside-50, resulting in another behind for Grocock, who was having a 'nearly day.' 

The lively forward’s luck quickly changed, converting a set shot from 35 metres out after a push in the back, and snapping truly moments later to reduce the margin to just 14 points.

Port Adelaide continued to have all the answers, responding with the next three goals to record an impressive eight-goal quarter and extend its advantage. 

Despite a classy late goal from Hargrave, the margin at the last break was 24 points in favour of Port Adelaide.

Needing everything to go right in the final term, South Adelaide continued to compete. Grocock’s third goal of the match gave the away side some spark, but that’s as close as the margin would get. 

The quarter proved to be an arm wrestle, with both sides going goal-for-goal, but South Adelaide was unable to eat into the sizeable lead.

Despite some strong individual performances across the ground, South Adelaide was ultimately outclassed by a clinical Port Adelaide side that featured plenty of experienced AFL talent. 

As the final siren sounded, Port Adelaide’s eight-goal third-quarter blitz proved to be the difference, securing its first win of the season.

South Adelaide will look to get its season back on track and respond strongly when it takes on North Adelaide at Magain Stadium on Saturday, 26 April, at 2:10pm.

The top-of-the-table showdown between Glenelg and South Adelaide lived up to expectations, with both sides unable to be separated at the final siren at Stratarama Stadium.

South Adelaide started the contest strongly, registering the first two goals of the game through Ryan Borlace, with his second creating a chorus of cheers from his teammates. 

Prime movers Jacob Collins and Tom Wheaton showcased their class and intensity around the ball, providing outside midfielders such as Charlie Duncan and Isaac Birt with time and space.

Borlace nearly converted his third goal in eight minutes after going back with the flight under a high ball, but his set shot went wide for a behind.

After a slow start to the game, Glenelg started to wrestle back momentum and put South’s backline under pressure through fast ball movement, resulting in its first goal of the game. 

South Adelaide were rebounding strongly from their half-back line, with Riley Jones and Will Splaan leading the way in that metric.

Collins increased his side’s lead to 13 points after finishing off some great ball movement, converting a set shot from 40 metres out on a slight angle. 

That two-goal margin would remain at the first break, with the away side happy with its start against the ladder leaders.

Needing a response, Glenelg came out firing in the opening minutes of the second term, kicking the first two goals to level the scores. 

After several under-pressure handballs, Bailey Pilmore broke away and laced out Borlace inside-50. The forward eventually kicked his third of the afternoon, giving his side back the lead.

Cody Lowe continued his strong season in the ruck, winning his share of the hit-outs and providing a marking option around the ground. 

After several appearances in the League side, Ben Ashley-Cooper made his presence felt around the contest, laying several strong tackles.

Glenelg responded to the away side’s challenge, kicking back-to-back goals to regain the lead and setting up a thrilling contest for spectators. 

The game needed some individual brilliance, and Sam Hindes provided a highlight when he took a mark 50 metres out on the boundary and calmly slotted the goal.

Hindes' beautiful strike was the difference between the two sides at the main break, with South Adelaide holding a slender one-point lead.

With the game firmly in the balance, many of South’s key ball movers continued to shine at the Bay. 

Tye McManus, Collins, and Wheaton were once again prolific at the coalface, while Hayden Kernahan and Sam Foley provided important rebound. 

South Adelaide’s backline was tasked with several key matchups, and Dayne McGarry and Jacob Sheean battled manfully against Glenelg’s key targets.

After conceding the first goal of the term, Hindes again showcased his composure when he converted his set shot on a tight angle to level the scores.

Both sides traded blows throughout the quarter, with Birt’s long-range effort and Tye Gander’s towering mark and finish in the goal square cancelling out previous majors from Glenelg.

South took a seven-point lead into the final term after Hindes' third goal of the game, resulting from a desperate tackle that was rewarded with a free kick and converted from 20 metres out.

The stadium was filled with anxiousness as both sets of fans were unsure how this tight contest would unfold. 

Glenelg landed the first blow of the final term, but that was matched moments later when Duncan burst away from the stoppage to launch from 50 metres out on the run. 

Gander’s desperation on the wing to keep the ball moving forward eventually gave Tommy Barrett the opportunity to extend South’s lead to two goals, but his snap went wide.

With the clock ticking, Collins made life much more difficult for Glenelg, when his snap on the left sailed through near the boundary to create a two-goal buffer. 

Glenelg reduced the margin to five points in the 18th minute, setting up a heart-stopping finish.

Borlace, one of the most dangerous forwards of the match, took a great contested mark inside-50 to potentially seal the result. 

However, his set shot missed, keeping the game alive. The home side would make Borlace pay for his minor score, kicking a 24th-minute goal to level the scores and

The home side would make Borlace pay for his minor score, kicking a 24th-minute goal to level the scores and giving either side just over a minute to steal the result.

South Adelaide had its heart in its mouth in the final moments of the game, with the ball living in the Glenelg forward-50. 

Desperate not to make a mistake, Glenelg gave away a free kick on Kernahan, potentially giving South one last chance to go end-to-end. 

However, by the time Kernahan kicked the ball forward, the final siren sounded. Players were uncertain how to react to the result, with the premiership points shared between both sides.

After registering the first draw of the season, South Adelaide will look to get back on the winners' list when it takes on North Adelaide at Magain Stadium on Saturday, 26 April, at 11:30am.