Adelaide Oval will host an SANFL classic on Sunday when Port Adelaide play Norwood in the League’s first Grand Final at Adelaide Oval for 40 years.

Norwood is chasing its third successive premiership while Port hopes to add to its long list of flags after overpowering a gallant South Adelaide by 20 points in Sunday’s preliminary final.

Trailing the Panthers by 17 points at half-time, the Magpies turned it on again in the third term, booting six goals while keeping their opponents to just three behinds.

Just as they did in the Second Semi-Final against Norwood, Port went on a goal-scoring rampage after some stern words from coach Garry Hocking at half-time.

Magpie Brendon Ah Chee got the ball rolling just one minute into the third quarter when he finished off a nice chain of handballs on the run from 15m.

And once prominent Pies midfielder Aaron Young snapped truly from a clearance, Port hit the front 12 minutes into the premiership quarter.

Three more majors two to Paul Stewart and one to Kane Mitchell ensured Port would establish a 21-point buffer at the last change.

But unlike eight days earlier, the Pies would not be overrun as they were against the Redlegs, booting the first two goals of the final term to build a game-breaking five-goal lead.

Eager to respond after a quiet second semi-final, Magpies captain Steven Summerton put in a strong second half to finish with 20 disposals six clearances and two goals.

The loyal Port man was determined to get his side into its first Grand Final this century, booking a berth against arch-rival Norwood next Sunday afternoon.

Aaron Young displayed his usual run and dash to also accumulate 20 possessions while Ah Chee, Kane Mitchell and Paul Stewart were other strong contributors after the main change.

Earlier, the Panthers looked on track for their first Grand Final appearance since 1979 when key forward Brett Eddy threatened to take control of the game with four majors before half-time.

South dominated the clearances in the first half, leading the key statistic category by 31-18 as ruckman Keegan Brooksby gave his deep midfield first look at the ball.

And with master tagger Jake Veide showing an offensive side to his game by booting two goals in the second term, it looked like the pain for Panthers’ fans was set to finally end.

But their brave bid to come from the Elimination Final into the title decider game to an end despite making another charge during the early stages of the final term.

Veteran midfielders Joel Cross and Nick Liddle battled valiantly throughout the afternoon, finishing with 50 disposals between them.

Eddy was the best forward on the ground, scoring five majors while Panthers defender Brad Crabb also worked hard for his side.

– sanfl.com.au

SCOREBOARD

Port 1.3 4.5 10.10 13.12 (90)
South 2.2 7.4 7.7 10.10 (70)

BEST – Port: Summerton, A. Young, Stevenson, Ah Chee, Gray, Byrne-Jones, Mitchell.
South: Cross, Liddle, Gotch, Eddy, Seccull, Crabb, C. Daniel.

GOALS – Port: Summerton, Stewart, Shaw, Mitchell, Ah Chee 2, Impey, A. Young, Amon.
South: Eddy 5, Veide 2, Overall, Brooksby, Cross.

UMPIRES – M. Avon, R. Hundertmark, A. Crosby.

CROWD – 8079 at Adelaide Oval.