Local Footy: Portland show Power how it’s really done

By Nick Kossatch

The Riverland Superdogs were rolled by visiting side Portland, from Adelaide, by a huge 55 points in the over-35’s Super-rules football at Berri Oval on Sunday.

Portland, whose jumper is that of hapless Port Adelaide Power, dominated from go to woe with their Aboriginal midfielders dazzling with their skills.

If only Port Adelaide played like Portland, a certain player lamented.

Paul ‘Weeds’ Matthews did boot the host’s first goal and, boy, the ‘Dog Tag’ best and fairest red-hot favourite was ecstatic about it!

He was content with running the water for the Grand Final-bound Paringa footballers during the season and is setting himself up for a ‘Grand Finale’ game against Fitzroy on Sunday week in Adelaide.

Things did not improve after quarter-time but the gutsy efforts of Anton Coates, who was dirty after Paringa beat his old side Cobdogla in the 2nd Semi-Final of the Independent Football League, could not be questioned.

Coates’ ex-Cobby team-mate and cousin Jeff Coates nailed a drop-kick nine-pointer ‘Super Goal’ from point blank range assisted by the hamstrung Peter Hoffmann.

He soon was in disbelief after his North Melbourne idols did the improbable and upset St Kilda.

Lance Gum, David Francis of East Murray fame and the smoking Shane Hannagan were most impressive for the Superdogs.

Player-coach Darren Tieste could not take a kick in the third stanza after a laughing fit due to umpire Mark Schwartzkopff’s only correct decision of the game.

The other Doggies to offer offensive resistance were the retiring Neville ‘Enzo’ Ebert, who showed incredible athleticism and auto electrician Danny ‘Father of Steve’ Raeder, who kicked a major each.

The bus trip ‘Mad Sunday’ starts after the Superdogs have played Fitzroy on Sunday the 6th September in Adelaide.

PORTLAND 13.11 (89) d  SUPERDOGS 4.10 (34)

GOALS: P. Matthews; N. Ebert; D. Raeder; J. Coates 1

BEST: S. Hannagan, S. Ingerson, P. Matthews, A. Coates, D. Francis, L. Gum

About Nicholas Kossatch

Tall and intelligent and athletically built who calls a spade a spade. Love sports writing and sending letters and texts to the editor about AFL and the Port Adelaide Power - win, lose or draw. I do not sit on the fence. Soon to be 40! I play basketball and over 35's supers football. Have played amateur footy and a bit of cricket and basketball when living in Adelaide. Do some writing for the Murray Pioneer,

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