Port Melbourne win ANZAC Eve thriller
By Ferguson Hickey on April 26, 2023
A back-and-forth thrilling contest between Port Melbourne and Frankston has seen the Borough win it in enemy territory, beating the Dolphins 104 – 89 at Kinetic Stadium.
The encounter saw many great highlights as well as plenty of lead changes in the second half, as both teams delivered on the big stage of ANZAC Day eve.
The impressive win now has Port sitting one spot outside the eight with a record of three wins and two losses.
Archi Manton was outstanding for the Borough up forward, kicking five goals for the night, with his contested marking and clinical finishing proving too much for the Frankston backline.
Tom Cameron’s clinical kicking out of the backline started many attacks for Port, while Dylan Clarke and skipper Harvey Hooper acted as the engine room for the Port Melbourne midfield, making their presence felt at contest after contest.
Fraser Rosman and Ethan Phillips also provided great ariel presence for the Port backline, halting many Frankston attacks.
The first quarter got underway with Harvey Hooper opening the goal scoring for Port Melbourne, as he earned himself a free kick and then converted a terrific set shot for the Borough.
This would get Port on one of their better scoring runs of the season, as Port Melbourne were far more clinical with the ball when going forward in the first quarter.
The next goal came through a beautiful kick inside fifty from Tom Cameron to set up a great left foot snap from Jake Gasper.
Port Melbourne’s willingness to take the game on from their backline and kick it long showed a lot in the first quarter, with many exciting plays being the result, Josh Green was able to capitalise on Port’s dominance of territory with a goal.
Green would instantly follow up that effort with a great kick inside fifty to set up Archi Manton’s first of the evening, and in less than a minute after that Campbell Walker kicked one after the Port Melbourne forwards were able to force the Frankston backline into a mistake.
Frankston would kick the next two to get back into the contest, Josh Green would then follow that up and kick his second to close the quarter with a 25-point advantage for Port Melbourne.
The second quarter did not have quite the same scoring flow as the first quarter, as the first goal was not kicked until the 11th minute mark of the term, through Frankston player Colby Nanya.
Port Melbourne’s only goal of the term would come from Archi Manton as he kicked his second of the match. Two costly errors saw Frankston get fifty-metre penalties that resulted in goals.
A goal after the siren from Bailey Lambert saw Frankston erase the quarter time deficit and go into the main break with a three-point advantage over Port Melbourne.
Josh Butland started the third quarter the way the second quarter ended with a set shot goal for the Dolphins.
Port Melbourne would find their answer through Archi Manton, as he took a terrific contested mark right on the goal line.
Manton would then follow that up by kicking his fourth of the game, after another great mark and converting a difficult banana for the goal.
The third term had well and truly become Archi Manton’s term as he would kick his fifth as well as giving Port back the lead. Port would build on that through Harley Bennell, who after selling some candy and faking out his opponent would kick a great snap over his shoulder.
Kyle Borg would then close the term for Port with a goal to lend them a handy 10-point advantage going into the final term.
Tom Hird would kick the important first goal of the final term, as Frankston really lifted their pressure to get themselves back into the game.
With there only being three points in the contest Port Melbourne needed a goal to extend their lead, and up stepped debutant Zach Adams as he calmly converted an incredibly hard set shot from the boundary.
After a crucial intercept mark coming from Fraser Rosman, the Borough would find their highlight of the match as Borg volleyed through his second of the afternoon to get the victory in sight for Port. A final goal from Matthew Signorello would seal the win for Port.
Now with two wins in a row Port Melbourne’s momentum will carry them into a crucial home encounter with the GWS Giants on the home deck at ETU Stadium next Sunday.
Port Melbourne 16.8 104 def Frankston 13.11 89.
Goals: A. Manton 5, J. Green 2, K. Borg 2
Disposals: T. Cameron 21, D. Clarke 20, H. Hooper 20, J. Green 18
Twitter: Ferg_Hickey36
