In front of a good crowd at Memorial Oval on Saturday, the unbeaten Port Bulldogs proved far too good and easily defeated a disappointing Solomontown team by 73 points in the Community Round.
Port Power players David Rodan and Alipate Carlisle were on hand to perform the coin toss which was won by Solomontown who elected to kick to the Cathedral end in perfect weather conditions.
Umpires Fitzgerald and Clarke were in charge.
Solomontown was without backman Nelson Magor and the dangerous Kane Wallace and included youngster Hayden Cox for his first game of the season.
Port was strengthened by the return of Michael Burford after a short stint with North Adelaide in the SANFL and promoted Greg Phillips to the league side.
Key matchups for Solomontown saw Mark Scollin given the job on Port’s goalkicker Brodie Mudge and Ryleigh Bateson charged with keeping the veteran forward Vance Remphrey quiet.
The highlight of the match was to be the rucking duel between Burford and Alan Margatich.
The first 10 minutes was an arm wrestle with neither side able to put a goal on the board until Solomontown's Leigh Promnitz received a 50m penalty and goaled from the goal line.
An undisciplined act by Port's Jack Clarke saw him reported for striking Solomontown's Richard Cable resulting in Cable being taken to hospital with a suspected broken jaw.
Both teams had their chances in an even first quarter and went to the break with Port leading by seven points.
Solomontown's coach, David Bickley was pleased with his team's effort whereas Port’s Donny Depalma had expected more from his charges.
The second quarter saw a more desperate Port side and goals to Wombat, Remphrey, Tom Clarke, Waters and two to Coombe highlighted their dominance, which resulted in them going in at half time with a lead of 43 points, having kicked six goals for the term to Solomontown's two points.
Tom Clarke was to take no further part in the game after limping off at half time with what appeared to be a knee injury.
He was one of Port’s best to the break.
Solomontown's James Moyse was in everything and along with Margatich and youngster Cox, was trying his best to keep Solomontown in the contest.
The third quarter saw Solomontown take the game up to Port and with Burford and Margatich sharing honours in ruck, Solomontown was winning the clearances and kicked four goals to one to bring the margin back to 26 points at three-quarter time.
Margatich had a good term with his ground work allowing Solomontown to win the quarter.
Port coach Depalma served it up to his players at the last break and neither side was able to get an advantage for the first 10 minutes of the term.
A goal to Coombe, another to Sykes and one each to the speedy Waters and Wombat saw the game over as a contest and Port ran away to record an resounding 73 point victory.
Solomontown failed to trouble the scorers in the last term.
Port had many good players and was well-served by Waters, Coombe, Fleming along with backmen Ben Luteria and Nathan Lynch.
For Solomontown, James Moyses was best along with Hayden Cox, Leigh Promnitz and the hard working Alan Margatich.
Port has started the season well and sits firmly at the top of the ladder, whereas Solomontown, although looking good in patches, still has a lot of work to do or there is a long season ahead.
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