A bloodied and banned Travis Tuck led West Adelaide to a dominant 53-point win against Port Melbourne in last night’s Foxtel Cup clash at the MCG.
Port Melbourne went into the match as favourites and looked comfortable at quarter time, leading by 13 but then giving up two late goals to go into half time level with the SANFL’s Bloods.
The visitors then staged a stunning turnaround to kick 12 goals to four in a runaway second half. Tuck embodied the West Adelaide effort as a gash on his head forced him off the ground for long periods during the second half.
Travis, the son of the great AFL games record holder Michael Tuck and brother of Richmond’s Shane, showed his class with 15 disposals, five tackles and two goals.
Dad and the family were at the MCG to cheer him on with Tuck senior telling Foxtel after the match he was proud of his lad’s performance.
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The 25 year-old is the only player to have recorded three strikes and been suspended under the AFL’s illicit drugs policy.
Port Melbourne has been the dominant side in the VFL in recent years, coached by Gary Ayres.
They looked ominous in the opening quarter, completely dominating possession and controlling the game, but when the sides settled down, it was one-way traffic.
“We took a while to get the cobwebs out from Saturday, but once we settled, it was a good effort,” Travis Tuck said. West Adelaide had seven fewer days rest than their more fancied rivals.
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Coach Andy Collins said the side had been overawed by being on the MCG, but started to use it to their advantage. “There was a real difference in the cleanliness of our possession (after quarter-time),’’ Collins said.
“I felt we were rushing the ball unnecessarily in the first part and there were plenty of spaces out there as it is a great ground and you want to use that space.
“It was really tough out there for the players and in those conditions, we talked about surging the ball forward by kicking it off the ground. I was really pleased they were also able to take some marks and get some follow-on play.’’
While some of the SANFL players were overwhelmed by the venue, Westies debutant Tom Schott goaled on the run with his first kick in league football to make his own memorable moment.
Emerging ruckman Peter Nelson showed he’s got a big future with four goals, 11 disposals and 19 hit outs.
West will now play the winner of next Tuesday night’s Foxtel Cup match between Claremont and Southport at Patersons Stadium.
The First Semi-Final will be played between East Fremantle and Werribee at Patersons Stadium on July 9 with the Second Semi-Final, West v Claremont/Southport, to be held on July 16 at a venue to be confirmed.
The Foxtel Cup Grand Final will be played on Tuesday August 6.
WEST ADELAIDE 1.1 5.3 11.7 17.9 (111) PORT MELBOURNE 3.2 5.3 7.4 9.4 (58)
BEST – West Adelaide: Tuck, Anderson, Macreadie, Nelson, Silverlock, Moran, Beech, Fielke. Port Melbourne: Rowe, Burstin, Hughes, Muling, Valenti.
GOALS – West Adelaide: Nelson 4, Beech 3, Schott, Keough, Tuck 2, Fielke, Macreadie, Homburg, Smith. Port Melbourne: Hughes 3, Burstin 2, Valenti, S. O’Sullivan, Papaleo, Mascitti.
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