Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Sport
Steve Larkin

Port thrash Crows in Gray's AFL swansong

Port Adelaide's Robbie Gray has finished his AFL career with a thumping win over Adelaide. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Port Adelaide great Robbie Gray has kicked two goals in a 56-point trouncing of arch foes Adelaide to finish his decorated AFL career on a triumphant note.

Gray also had a hand in four other goals - and missed two regulation set shots - in Port's 16.15 (111) to 7.13 (55) win at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

"It was a nice game to finish on," Gray said.

"I loved it.

"I feel really grateful for all the support and the love this week so to go out, and for the boys to perform the way they did, was a really special night.

"It was a fantastic game to finish on."

Gray's teammates Connor Rozee (34 disposals, 11 inside 50s, one goal), Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines (34 possessions, one goal) and Zak Butters (26 touches, nine clearances, one goal) were midfield forces.

Winger Karl Amon was another standout with 31 disposals and a goal in what's expected to be his last game for the Power before requesting a trade to a Melbourne-based club, while Todd Marshall slotted four goals.

Port, after being beaten preliminary finalists in the past two seasons, will finish 11th on the ladder.

The Crows will likely end their season in 14th spot, missing the finals for the fifth consecutive year.

Before a sell-out 50,090-strong crowd, Adelaide's Jordan Dawson (22 disposals), Rory Laird (26 touches) and Darcy Fogarty, who kicked three first-half goals, battled gamely against the Port tide.

But the Crows, after trailing by seven points at halftime, were swamped in the second half when the Power kicked 11 goals to three.

Port's second-half spree came after a tight first half when Fogarty's triple treats kept the Crows in the contest.

Port led by one-point at quarter-time, 2.4 to 2.3, with Gray having a hand in both his side's goals - handballs in the scoring chains.

In the second stanza, Gray threaded a 45-metre set shot from a tight angle to delight the pro-Power crowd.

Adelaide's Fogarty then booted consecutive goals after two strong contested marks taken under great heat from Port captain Tom Jonas.

But Port, after leading 5.7 to 4.6 at halftime, accelerated in the third stanza.

They scored four consecutive goals with four-time All Australian and triple club champion Gray triggering the avalanche with a left footed goal from an acute angle.

And after leading by 28 points at three quarter-time, Port ran amok in the last term with seven goals to two as the Crows' season ended with barely a whimper.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.