
Butters brilliant in Port's comeback win over Eagles
The Power trailed by 33 points in the opening quarter before rallying to a 12.15 (87) to 9.6 (61) victory at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
Butters, whose 38 disposals featured 14 in the first term, was brilliant as Port booted the last five goals of the game to triumph.
The Power, who lost captain Connor Rozee to a hand injury, kicked the opening goal of the match but didn't hit the front again until early in the final term.
West Coast produced their highest-scoring quarter under first-year coach Andrew McQualter, booting 6.3 to 2.2 in the opening term.
The Eagles flourished with a 17-8 inside-50 dominance on a day when it was announced their midfielder Jack Graham had been suspended by the AFL for four matches for a homophobic slur against an opponent.
West Coast's 25-point lead at quarter-time prompted stern words from Power coach Ken Hinkley to his players.
But the Eagles, after a superb Liam Baker goal when the ex-Tiger had two disposals in the chain and then converted with a third, were still four goals up midway through the second stanza.
The tide then turned, with Port scoring two quick majors to creep within eight points.
But late set-shot misses from Port pair Mitch Georgiades and Jack Lukosius ensured the visitors led by 11 points at halftime, 7.5 to 5.6.
Both teams kicked two majors in a tight third term - Port kicked 2.6 and scores were level until a late Jobe Shanahan strike gave the Eagles a six-point edge at three-quarter time.
But Port's Darcy Byrne-Jones put his side in front five minutes into the final term - the first of five successive goals for his club.
Power forward Georgiades kicked 3.5, Jason Horne-Francis booted three majors from 27 disposals, and Joe Richards and Byrne-Jones kicked two goals each.
Port's standout Butters received solid midfield support from Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines (25 touches), and Kane Farrell (20) was creative at half-back.
West Coast young gun Harley Reid gathered a team-high 26 disposals, Clay Hall (21 touches) and Jack Williams (two goals) impressed, while veterans Liam Duggan (21 possessions) and Baker (18) were prominent.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Race-by-race preview and tips for Thursday meeting at Newcastle
Track Heavy 9 and rail out 6m. Race 1 2. Storm Park is an improving four-year-old ready to win again third-up in only his second prep. Worked home okay when resuming at Wyong before again doing his best work late at Hawkesbury. At peak fitness now in a race with less depth, 2kg jockeys' claim is pivotal and bred to relish these conditions. 7. Faye Runaway hit the line impressively second-up over a mile, and is drawn to be in the finish. 3. Hippy Dreams improves sharply third-up back on preferred ground. 4. Farraige is trained on the course and has only missed a place once in his last four. 1. Artzino is a market watch having his first start for the new Hawkesbury stable after switching from Queensland, where he hadn't won in a long time. How to play it: Storm Park to win Race 2 3. Dollars is a fit four-year-old who can finally break through in suitable going after placing in three of his last four. Charged home here as a solid favourite in a handy maiden two starts back before again close-up when ridden on speed in a metro two and three-year-old battle. Back at home and drawn to get plenty of cover just off the speed, he only needs a clear shot at them over the final 350m. 1. Ridgeback didn't shirk the task when chasing home a dominant winner at Kembla, and the step-up 300m in trip is an obvious plus. 2. Brut Nature, a four-year-old by Brutal, debuts for the Blake Ryan stable behind two forward trials. Big gap to the rest, headed by 7. Painted Wings down in weight at her fourth start. How to play it: Dollars to win Race 3 10. Savvy Hallie is a smart provincial filly, and the clear one to beat resuming behind two strong trials. Placed three times from four starts as a two-year-old in autumn, the latest a close second to high-class Tempted in the group 2 Percy Sykes after leading. Will start very short after the early market rival was preferred at Wednesday's Kensington meeting. 4. Ruination can run a big race on debut for the Michael Freedman stable after three improving trials, while 7. Dietrich ran home okay on debut in the country. How to play it: Savvy Hallie to win Race 4 8. Quein Step is a tough and consistent metropolitan mare resuming in an ideal short-course affair, 11 weeks after a dominant country maiden win. Ran a good time from the front that day on a soft 7 rating, and fresh here with significant weight relief, can either lead or sit right behind from the inside draw. 2. Wal's Me Mate is a progressive four-year-old who let down powerfully from the trail to thrash his maiden opposition first-up at Wyong. Can take that form into this, although the drop back to a flying 900m is a query in what is a more than handy Class 1 field. 4. Zounaka is a consistent mare resuming off two progressive trials, winning the latest and beating home a talented one who then scored first-up. 1. Last Druid, an ex-Godolphin four-year-old resuming for the new Tracey Bartley stable at Wyong, and 3. Rockbarton Max reloading seven weeks after a fighting Super Maiden win here; are both capable of running into the minor money. How to play it: Quein Step to win

The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
Race-by-race preview and tips for Thursday meeting at Newcastle
Track Heavy 9 and rail out 6m. Race 1 2. Storm Park is an improving four-year-old ready to win again third-up in only his second prep. Worked home okay when resuming at Wyong before again doing his best work late at Hawkesbury. At peak fitness now in a race with less depth, 2kg jockeys' claim is pivotal and bred to relish these conditions. 7. Faye Runaway hit the line impressively second-up over a mile, and is drawn to be in the finish. 3. Hippy Dreams improves sharply third-up back on preferred ground. 4. Farraige is trained on the course and has only missed a place once in his last four. 1. Artzino is a market watch having his first start for the new Hawkesbury stable after switching from Queensland, where he hadn't won in a long time. How to play it: Storm Park to win Race 2 3. Dollars is a fit four-year-old who can finally break through in suitable going after placing in three of his last four. Charged home here as a solid favourite in a handy maiden two starts back before again close-up when ridden on speed in a metro two and three-year-old battle. Back at home and drawn to get plenty of cover just off the speed, he only needs a clear shot at them over the final 350m. 1. Ridgeback didn't shirk the task when chasing home a dominant winner at Kembla, and the step-up 300m in trip is an obvious plus. 2. Brut Nature, a four-year-old by Brutal, debuts for the Blake Ryan stable behind two forward trials. Big gap to the rest, headed by 7. Painted Wings down in weight at her fourth start. How to play it: Dollars to win Race 3 10. Savvy Hallie is a smart provincial filly, and the clear one to beat resuming behind two strong trials. Placed three times from four starts as a two-year-old in autumn, the latest a close second to high-class Tempted in the group 2 Percy Sykes after leading. Will start very short after the early market rival was preferred at Wednesday's Kensington meeting. 4. Ruination can run a big race on debut for the Michael Freedman stable after three improving trials, while 7. Dietrich ran home okay on debut in the country. How to play it: Savvy Hallie to win Race 4 8. Quein Step is a tough and consistent metropolitan mare resuming in an ideal short-course affair, 11 weeks after a dominant country maiden win. Ran a good time from the front that day on a soft 7 rating, and fresh here with significant weight relief, can either lead or sit right behind from the inside draw. 2. Wal's Me Mate is a progressive four-year-old who let down powerfully from the trail to thrash his maiden opposition first-up at Wyong. Can take that form into this, although the drop back to a flying 900m is a query in what is a more than handy Class 1 field. 4. Zounaka is a consistent mare resuming off two progressive trials, winning the latest and beating home a talented one who then scored first-up. 1. Last Druid, an ex-Godolphin four-year-old resuming for the new Tracey Bartley stable at Wyong, and 3. Rockbarton Max reloading seven weeks after a fighting Super Maiden win here; are both capable of running into the minor money. How to play it: Quein Step to win


Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Blues-Magpies rivalry set to heat up in AFLW opener
Carlton love nothing more than beating Collingwood, but can the Blues ensure the 2024 AFLW wooden spooners and their prized No.1 draft pick endure a painful start to 2025? The AFLW season kicks off on Thursday night with Carlton hosting Collingwood at Ikon Park and West Coast taking on Gold Coast in Perth. The Eagles' match was initially set to be played at Leederville's Sullivan Logistics Stadium, but the muddied field convinced the league to switch the game to West Coast's home base at Mineral Resources Park. Collingwood finished last in 2024 with a 1-10 record, while Carlton (4-7) also struggled on the way to a 14th-placed finish. The Blues did at least get bragging rights over Collingwood last year, and will be aiming to dish out another dose of pain on Thursday night. "We want to beat the Pies," Carlton coach Mathew Buck said. "You always like to beat Collingwood, there's no doubt about that - across the whole football club, men's and women's programs, whether it's VFL or AFL. "It was a nice close game last year, with a kick from Dayna Finn that put us back in front to ultimately win the game, so they've been close in the past and I think it might be close again." The Magpies are being tipped to be big improvers this season, and will unleash No.1 draft pick Ash Centra against the Blues. Centra, who dominated while playing at Vic Metro and the Gippsland Power, is tipped to be the next big thing. Father-daughter recruit Violet Patterson, the daughter of Stephen Patterson, and former Docker Airlie Runnalls will also run out for the Magpies. On the other side of the country, West Coast will be out to prove the doubters wrong in Daisy Pearce's second season at the helm. The Eagles won a club-record four games last season, but most pundits are still tipping them to finish near the bottom of the ladder. West Coast will hand a debut to No.7 draft pick Lucia Painter and No.57 pick Kayla Dalgleish, with the match marking the first time Bella Lewis and Charlie Thomas lead the side as co-captains. Suns coach Rhyce Shaw has named five debutants, including Gold Coast academy graduates Havana Harris, Nyalli Milne and Mia Salisbury. Harris was the No.2 pick at last year's AFLW national draft. Sydney, who fell to 15th last season, will be out to make a strong start when they host Richmond on Friday night. On Saturday, Geelong face a tough task against defending premiers North Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium, GWS face Essendon, and injury-hit Melbourne take on the Western Bulldogs. Sunday's action has Brisbane up against Hawthorn, St Kilda taking on powerhouse Adelaide, and Port Adelaide hosting Fremantle.