Round 17, 2002
Port Adelaide vs Melbourne
Saturday 27 July
Venue: Football Park
Attendance: 25,283
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Port Adelaide | 6.4 | 12.7 | 14.10 | 17.14.116 |
| Melbourne | 3.2 | 9.4 | 11.6 | 17.10.112 |
Port Adelaide win by 4 points
Goalkickers: David Neitz 6, Cameron Bruce 4, Peter Vardy 4, Travis Johnstone 1, Russell Robertson 1, Peter Walsh 1
Brownlow Votes:
1 - Andrew Leoncelli
Milestones:
Nil
In soaking wet conditions, Port benefited from ill-discipline by the Demons to score two first half goals from 50m penalties, and as the game took a spiteful turn several small clashes broke out around the ground. The home side were better all over the ground early, opening a five goal lead during the first quarter, and a 43 point gap in the second, before late goals from Cameron Bruce and David Neitz helped cut the margin to 21 points at the long break while dominant Power ruckman Matthew Primus was resting on the bench.
Port already had a long injury list, and lost two more players during the second quarter. They still looked like winning easily when a goal in the first 30 seconds of the last quarter extended to gap to 30. Then Melbourne launched its comeback, and when Peter Vardy kicked his third goal in five minutes, Melbourne led at the 22 minute mark. Just when they had got their noses in front for the first time all day Matthew Primus put his side ahead again. Russell Robertson had the chance to win the game in the dying seconds but a desperate soccer ran wide. He had already had one chance to put his side in front minutes earlier with a shot on goal that fell short and was rushed through for a point.
Best were Johnstone, Bruce and Neitz. James McDonald injured his ankle. Craig Ellis was reported for striking Barnaby French with a right forearm to the head during the third quarter and suspended for two matches. Ellis claimed that he had made slight contact but that French "dramatised" the contact. French said he had been struck but admitted to playing up contact to win a free kick, but it failed to save Ellis, who was criticised by the Tribunal for his "appalling" record. It was his first time reported as a Melbourne player but for the fifth time in five years, dating back to his time with the Western Bulldogs.
Neale Daniher said "I was really proud of the boys the way they worked away at the game. Port jumped away early and the boys just hung in there." He credited his team for not giving in, saying "there's some good leadership in the group across the board".
Lists
Tribunal
Media
afl.com.au - 27/07/2002
Age - 28/07/2002, 29/07/2002, 30/07/2002, 31/07/2002