SWANS LEFT STUNNED

PORT Adelaide has announced its premiership credentials with an inspiring 23point win over the Sydney Swans at the SCG.

Port came from 14 points down at halftime to make it back-to-back victories at the Swans’ home ground after also beating them in Round 1 last season.

The Swans failed to convert a massive plus 21 (35-14) inside 50 advantage in the first half, which was set up largely by Luke Parker and Josh Kennedy.

Lance Franklin kicked four goals for the night and had a hand in another three — but Sydney had no other multiple goalkickers in a lopsided forward set-up.

Ken Hinkley gave the toughest job in football to 11gamer Dougal Howard, who did well to contain Franklin’s influence along with the rest of an inexperienced backline.

The move of Howard on to Buddy was just one of a host of switches Hinkley made that turned the game on its head at halftime.

His move of Charlie Dixon into the ruck and Sam PepperPowell on to Parker proved pivotal as the visitors turned contested possession and clearances around completely.

Port also went to a small forward line, with Travis Boak and Steven Motlop sparking its attack.

Boak kicked the first two goals of the second half as the Power put on seven goals to the Swans’ two. A pair to young forward Todd Marshall opened up a decisive 15-point lead at the last change.

Franklin’s fourth and another to Dean Towers closed the gap to just four points, but Port surged away in the last to win comfortably.

As well as the turnaround in the contested possessions, the Swans will look to several defensive errors in the pivotal third term.

The first came from one of their best in All Australian defender Dane Rampe, who fumbled terribly on the goal line to allow Chad Wingard to soccer through the easiest of goals.

A second came just minutes later when no one thought to stand on the goal line allowing Marshall to slot his second from an acute angle, which could easily have been touched.

A last-quarter 50-metre penalty given away to Jared Polec was also enormously costly when the speedster converted from outside the arc.

Franklin was again the Swans’ best and didn’t let up trying. Jarrad McVeigh was also very good as he continued to quarterback the backline and Kennedy, Parker and Isaac Heeney also worked hard. Smith was also strong in defence and kept danger man Chad Wingard quiet for most of the match.