One of the most hyped debuts in recent AFL history ended in disappointment for West Coast’s No.1 draft pick Harley Reid.
The 18-year-old, who had countless articles written about him before even playing a senior game, made a bright start but his team were comprehensively outclassed by the Power.
Reid had eight disposals and a hand in a goal-scoring chain in the first quarter before finishing with 16 disposals, five clearances and four inside-50s.
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While all the focus was on Reid, Port Adelaide’s Connor Rozee and Zak Butters have started their leadership reign with aplomb in the 50-point hammering.
New skipper Rozee and fresh vice-captain Butters were among the stand-outs in Port’s 16.24 (120) to 10.10 (70) win at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
Rozee gathered 27 disposals and kicked two goals while Butters, who also collected 27 touches and a goal, was typically creative.
The duo’s midfield mates Jason Horne-Francis (20 disposals, two goals), Willem Drew (16 touches, two goals) and Ollie Wines (23 possessions) helped overwhelm the Eagles in the season-opener for both clubs.
Port spearhead Charlie Dixon kicked 3.3 and recruits Ivan Soldo (two goals, 28 hit-outs), Esava Ratugolea and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher were all solid.
West Coast were well served by Jack Petruccelle (three goals) while Elliot Yeo (20 disposals), Jayden Hunt (20) and ruckman Bailey Williams (13 hit-outs, seven clearances) battled hard.
Port led 3.6 to 3.1 at quarter-time with Dixon threatening, having kicked 2.2 and handing off another potential scoring shot.
The Eagles were gifted a first-term major by a boundary umpire error when Jake Waterman collected the ball clearly outside the line before passing to Petruccelle, who converted.
Dixon’s influence continued in the second quarter when he again outmarked Tom Barrass and kicked his third goal – the first in a four-goal burst from Port which broke the game open.
The Power surge, which included ex-Richmond ruck Soldo’s first goal for his new club, created a five-goal buffer and the home side led by 31 points at halftime, 9.10 to 5.3.
Port’s advantage blew out to 43 early in the third quarter after goals from Rozee and Willem Drew but just when the Eagles appeared down for the count, they briefly rallied.
West Coast stalwart Jack Darling goaled, co-captain Liam Duggan followed with a classy finish and fellow skipper Oscar Allen then hit the post with a set-shot which would have reduced the deficit to 24.
Instead, the visitors trailed by 32 points after a third term punctuated by an injury to Port’s Jed McEntee, who was concussed when his head hit the ground after a marking collision with the Eagles’ Williams.
Port, before a home crowd of 34,078 spectators, then outscored the visitors five goals to three in the final quarter.
– With AAP