Power jumps into AFLW top eight with 15-point downing of Saints

Australia World

Surging Port Adelaide has jumped above St Kilda into the AFLW’s top eight and sealed a club-record four straight wins with a 15-point victory over the Saints.

A five-goal first-quarter blitz from the home team set up their 7.5 (47) to 5.2 (32) win at Alberton.

The Saints, who started the game in eighth, slumped to a fifth loss in six games and dropped to ninth.

There was a late scare for the home team after outstanding young ruck Matilda Scholz hobbled off the ground in the last quarter.

However, Rising Star nominee Scholz, who logged career highs of 22 disposals and 16 contested possessions a game after taking one of the most talked about marks in AFLW history, downplayed the knee issue.

“I just landed on my knee. Structurally, it’s fine. I’ve had a few problems like bruising,” Scholz told Fox Footy.

“I’m feeling alright. I don’t even know if we need to get a scan, so I think it’s alright.”

Port goaled after just 83 seconds through an Ashley Saint set shot.

Saint finished with two goals along with Abbey Dowrick, who hit the target with two superbly executed right foot snaps and tallied 19 disposals, 10 tackles and eight clearances.

Port kicked the last four goals of the first quarter to open a 25-point lead at the first change.

Their pressure up front was a key factor In their performance as they racked up 24 tackles in their forward 50, compared to six for the Saints at the other end.

Shineah Goody (22 touches, 11 marks and eight tackles) was another impressive performer for Port.

The Saints were more competitive in the second quarter, kicking two goals from 50-metre penalties, with Caitlin Wendland replying for Port with a well-executed left-foot snap.

That reduced Port’s lead at the half to 20, but that blew out to 28 at three-quarter time after they held St Kilda scoreless In the third and Saint kicked her second.

The Saints kicked the only two goals of the final quarter to cut the deficit to respectable proportions and stop Port moving above Essendon into seventh.

“I think we’ve done some really nice stuff, but we’ve made some really critical errors and allowed Port to get some really easy goals,” Saints coach Nick Dal Santo told Fox Footy at three-quarter time.

Tyanna Smith shone for the Saints with two goals, 10 tackles and five clearances and Jaimee Lambert was another hard worker, amassing 18 touches, five tackles and five clearances.

AAP