1996 Grand Final Port 11.14 80 d Central 6.8 44

The complete match from Football Park. Also pre-match entertainment and interviews with Port coach Stephen Williams and Central coach Steve Wright. Post match presentations, lap of honour, team photos on oval and interview with Stephen Williams. Match review: "You have to lose one to win one" That was the feeling around Central District for the 1996 Grand Final. Again finishing minor premiers, this time notching up their first win against Port in a final to head straight to the big dance. Port just got over the line in a controversial Preliminary Final over Norwood in a typical come from behind win to set up another Central/Port Grand Final. Maybe this was the Dogs time - Port would be recovering from a high - Roger Girdham winning the toss and choosing this time to kick with the breeze. A sign of things to come? Well, at half time the scores were at a similar state as the year before (Port 7 points to the good), so with the slight wind advantage, it had to be the Dogs to make their move. And within 5 minutes, Central had a 6 point lead. Abruptly however, once more, Port Adelaide showed who was the boss when it came to finals. From this point in the match onwards, they would kick 7.8 to 1.2. Led by Scott Hodges (who for the second time outscored the opposition in a Grand Finals match) with 7 goals 4 behinds and Jack Oatey Medallist David Brown (22 possessions and 6 tackles), they would ensure another Magpie march to the flag. For Central, Stephen Schwerdt was best (game high 27 possessions) and Scott Lee with some outstanding defending work particularly in the first half. The win also gave Stephen Williams his first premiership as coach, having stepped in to carry on the dynasty of the late 80s and 90s by John Cahill. He was preparing the first year for Port Adelaide in the AFL for season 1997. Review courtesy of spell_check from SAfooty.