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Saturday, 18 September 2004 |
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Lions into fourth grand final
Brisbane 12.12 (84) Geelong 10.15 (75)
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WEEK 3, Preliminary Finals
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Brisbane Lions beat the Cats
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Success - moved to tablet
I have recently become the happy user of a new Tablet PC Today I migrated my blog to the new system and this will be my first new post.
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Port defeat Saints to reach first grand final
PORT ADELAIDE 4.0 8.3 10.8 14.10 (94) ST KILDA 4.5 7.5 10.9 13.10 (88) Port Adelaide is into its first ever AFL grand final after beating St Kilda by six points in a heart-stopping preliminary final at AAMI Stadium tonight. A despairing lunge by Power defender Shaun Burgoyne at the feet of Saint Brent Guerra with less than a minute to play saved a certain goal and preserved a 14.10 (94) to 13.10 (88) victory for the home side. Port will meet the winner of tomorrow night's Brisbane-Geelong preliminary final to decide the 2004 premiership, and after an extraordinary record of success in the SANFL competition, the Power will get a chance to win its first flag in the big time. Carrying the weight of its 'finals choker' tag into the match, Port started slowly but prevailed in a nerve-wracking second half when the lead changed hands several times and the margin was never more than two goals in either sides' favour.
An amazing snap goal from former captain Gavin Wanganeen put Port six points up after 21 minutes of the final quarter, and they hung on with grim determination in a frantic final few minutes. It appeared the Saints would draw level at the very death when Guerra - a former Port player - raced toward a loose ball in the goalsquare, only for Burgoyne to dive at full length to block the ball in the manner of a soccer goalkeeper. Port then soaked up the final seconds until the final siren which sent the home crowd into delirium. The loss ended an extraordinary season for St Kilda which broke a club-record winning streak to start the season, but who tapered away in the run-in to the finals. Well aware that Port Adelaide very rarely loses a match when it leads at quarter-time, St Kilda knew it had to begin well to unsettle opponents and silence a 50,000-strong crowd. They did so, dominating play early and delivering full forward Fraser Gehrig the two goals he needed to bring up 100 for the season within just ten minutes of the first quarter. But the subsequent ground invasion by fans to mark the milestone came at the worst time for St Kilda, as Port - already 14 points down - were able to gather their thoughts for a few minutes and immediately hit back with two quick goals. The Saints had little reward for their first quarter dominance, holding a slender five-point lead at quarter-time, but importantly they had prevented a Power confidence boost. Port had been hanging in only by their forward efficiency and ruck dominance, but the game evened up in the second quarter and at half-time the home side was in front by four points and the game was shaping as a September classic. With the game in the balance, the half-time break provided an opportunity for players of both sides to ponder the grand final berth on offer, and that was perhaps reflected in an error-riddled third quarter. Scoring opportunities were at a premium, and that suited the visitors more than Port, which was in unfamiliar territory having recorded an average winning margin of 55 points in home games this year. Lenny Hayes was providing the grunt around the packs for the Saints, while Port star Warren Tredrea carried his side's hopes on his broad shoulders and kicked three goals to three-quarter time. Port went out to an 11-point lead after 11 minutes of the final quarter when Dean Brogan was paid a dubious free-kick straight in front of goals. But St Kilda answered immediately and when Luke Ball goaled after 18 minutes scores were level and extra-time beckoned for just the second time in AFL history before Wanganeen and Burgoyne's intervention. [Realfooty]
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Brave Saints fall a goal short
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Brave St Kilda has gone down by a goal in a classic preliminary final at AAMI Stadium on Friday night. In one of the best games of football imaginable, the Power hung on in a thrilling finish to win 14.10 (94) to 13.10 (88) to send a record Port finals crowd of nearly 47,000 delirious with joy at the final siren. Robert Harvey was magnificent with 27 touches in his 300th game, while Fraser Gehrig booted five, including his 100th for the season. |
Port wins an epic
Port Adelaide is through to its first grand final since joining the AFL in 1997 after outlasting St Kilda by six points in classic preliminary final at AAMI Stadium on Friday night. Fraser Gehrig booted his 100th goal in the first term, but the Power steadied thereafter. Gavin Wanganeen, quiet all night, bobbed up late to snap the match-winner from deep on the boundary [more]
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Port Adelaide into first Grand Final
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Power sink the Saints to reach Grand Final
Port Adelaide has advanced to its first grand final with a thrilling six-point win over St Kilda at AAMI Stadium on Friday night – 14.10 (94) to 13.10 (88). Gehrig reached his 100-goal milestone with his second goal of the match in the first quarter and was quickly escorted from the ground as fans rushed onto the oval to congratulate him – forcing a three-minute suspension of play. The Saints had the opportunity to force a draw in the last minutes of the match but their forward thrust broke down and Brent Guerra was unable to soccer through the ball as it bounced toward goal. Port Adelaide: 4.0, 8.3, 10.8, 14.10 (94)
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Century for the G-Train. St Kilda spearhead Fraser Gehrig has needed just 11 minutes to bring up his first century of goals in a season during Friday night's first AFL preliminary final. He booted the first two goals of the game to become the first player to kick 100 goals in a season since Matthew Lloyd of Essendon in 2001. The last St Kilda player to do it was Tony Lockett in 1992. [Official AFL Website]
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