2004: Premiership Glory
| 2004 AFL Grand Final | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 September 2:40 pm | Port Adelaide | def. | Brisbane Lions | MCG (Crowd: 77,671) | |
| 4.5 (29) 6.6 (42) 12.8 (80) 17.11 (113) |
Q1 Q2 Q3 Final |
2.2 (14) 6.7 (43) 9.9 (63) 10.13 (73) |
Umpires: James, Allen, McInerney Norm Smith Medal: Byron Pickett (Port Adelaide) |
||
| Wanganeen 4 Pickett, Thurstans 3 S. Burgoyne, Carr, Dew, Kingsley, Lade, Mahoney, Tredrea 1 |
Goals | Akermanis, Bradshaw, Notting 3 Keating 1 |
|||
| Pickett, P. Burgoyne, Wanganeen, Thurstans, K. Cornes | Best | Akermanis, Notting, Lappin, Bradshaw | |||
The year of 2004 was arguably the greatest season in the club's history.
Port Adelaide opened the season well with victories over Essendon, West Coast and Hawthorn. After which, the club then faltered slightly winning only four of its next eight games. At this stage Port Adelaide had dropped as low as fifth on the premiership table, three games below ladder leaders St Kilda. From rounds twelve to seventeen Port Adelaide turned their fortunes around and had six consecutive wins and were equal top of the ladder with Brisbane, St Kilda and Melbourne. Although in contention for the Minor Premiership Port Adelaide then suffered another hiccup with an unexpected loss to Essendon.
The following week Port Adelaide bounced back with a comprehensive victory over top to the table Melbourne. In the succeeding two weeks Port Adelaide beat lowly placed Western Bulldogs and Collingwood and were sitting on top of the ladder. With one round to go Port Adelaide needed to beat cross town rivals to claim the Minor Premiership for the third consecutive year. In a hard fought game Port Adelaide accounted for the Adelaide Crows by twenty five points. Port Adelaide was assisted by the ascendancy of soon to be name All-Australian Centre Half Forward Warren Tredrea. Tredrea dominated his opponent Ben Rutten collecting twenty one disposals, eleven marks, four goals and three Brownlow Medal votes.
Port Adelaide easily won the qualifying final against Geelong, earning a home Preliminary Final. Port Adelaide made it through to its first AFL Grand Final after defeating St Kilda in a thrilling Preliminary Final by just six points in front of over 46,000 people at home, with Gavin Wanganeen kicking the winning goal with about a minute to go. On 25 September 2004, Port Adelaide faced a highly fancied Brisbane side attempting to win a record-equalling fourth straight AFL premiership. Only one point separated the sides at half time, however late in the third quarter Port Adelaide took the ascendency and romped home in the final term to win by 40 points: 17.11 (113) to 10.13 (73). Byron Pickett was awarded with the Norm Smith Medal after being judged the best player in the match, tallying 20 disposals and kicking three goals.
Read more about this topic: Power To Win, AFL History, 1999-2010: Mark "Choco" Williams Era
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