Thilthorpe dominates as Crows down Port in reserves

Second overall draft pick Riley Thilthorpe dominated as Adelaide defeated Port Adelaide in the reserves trial match.

Adelaide’s prized second overall draft pick has staked his claim for a first-team spot with a dominant four-goal performance in a 14-point win over Port Adelaide in the reserves’ trial match.

Lachie Gollant got Adelaide off to a good start with a goal from the square, but Thilthorpe kicked the Crows second of the match with a towering punt from 50 out following a strong pack mark.

Dylan Williams snapped Port’s first of the morning, but it was all the Crows for the next quarter and a bit as they took a six-point lead into quarter-time.

Son of Port great Darryl Borlase, James, kicked his first for the Crows following a 50-metre penalty, before Thilthorpe added his second just before half-time, also from a 50-metre penalty.

The third quarter was all the Thilthorpe show.

The young tall forward missed a set shot early, but responded with a remarkable over the top kick to Tariek Newchurch, who burned through Tyson Goldsack to score.

He backed it up with a slick handball over the back through to Elliott Himmelberg, who extended the margin to 27 points midway through the third.

Thilthorpe had kicked his third and then fourth after a strong pack mark, blowing the margin out to a game-high 38 points.

Port had minimal chances early in the third, and had kicked 1.11 up until middle of the quarter, but that drought was snapped through SANFL-listed player Ethan Moore.

It sparked a minor comeback from Port, with Owen Montgomery converting to cut the deficit to 25 points at the final change.

Port came hard in the fourth, with goals from Sam Mayes, Moore and Boyd Woodcock seeing the momentum switch and Port within a goal.

However, the Crows held strong, with Kieran Strachan kicking the final major of the match with the last kick of the game.

SCOREBOARD

Port Adelaide 1.3 | 1.9 | 3.12 | 6.16 (52)

Adelaide 2.3 | 4.4 | 8.7 | 9.12 (66)

Goals

Port Adelaide: Moore 2, Woodcock, Mayes, Williams, Montgomery.

Adelaide: Thilthorpe 4, Strachan, Newchurch, Himmelberg, Gollant, Borlase.