Former Tiger Matt White produces one of the goals of the year but Richmond beats Port at Etihad StadiumRebecca Williams
Herald-Sun
July 14, 2014 AT THE end of the day, the scoreboard did not reflect a happy homecoming for Port Adelaide speedster Matt White facing his old club for the first time.
The Power suffered a 20-point loss to the Tigers, there was plenty of attention from his former teammates early on, not to mention a shaky start when his first two shots at goal went through for behinds in the opening quarter.
But White, who joined Port this season after eight years at Richmond, produced one of the highlights of the game with his brilliant final-quarter run that was immediately being hailed as a goal of the year contender.
White gathered the ball at half-back, ran full tilt up the wing with three bounces, burning off a chasing Steve Morris in the process, before unloading from 50m to goal.
I saw Stevie Morris running at me and I knew that if I could just get him back inside, I might have a chance of getting away from him,'' White said of his run after the game.
I tried to suck him in as much as I could and I was lucky enough to get around him and finish the goal with a very mongrel punt goal but it was nice to see that one go through.
(I was going at) about 90 per cent and when he got closer I really put it down. It was nice to kick a nice goal like that, just disappointed we couldn't get the win.
The goal was one two for White, his first coming after two behinds in the opening quarter, which he savoured against the backdrop of jeering from sections of the Richmond crowd.
I was pretty happy to get the first one. I missed two early that I thought I should have kicked,'' White said.
But to finish off with two, I was pretty happy with. Disappointed we didn't get the win, but did some nice things out there today.'' Richmond coach Damien Hardwick this week acknowledged how important the 27-year-old speedster had been for Port this season and suggested he would get plenty of attention from his former teammates.
White admitted he had been on the receiving end early in the match from the Tigers.
It was difficult, the boys got into me a little bit early, which I knew was going to happen and bounce me around, White said.
I got a nice little elbow in the side of the head at one point just in the bottom of the pack. But that's all right, it was always going to happen.
I hope I left the place on good terms. It was a decision for me to come and play some more footy and it's working for me and I wish the club all the best and I've just got to keep going now and look to finish the year off strongly and have a fair crack towards the end of the year.'' White has played 15 matches with the Power this year, producing career-best numbers in his ninth AFL season.
He said the decision to move was the right one for his game. I am really happy with the move, White said.
I've come to a great place, we obviously haven't had the last couple of weeks that we wanted but this has definitely been the right move for me and my partner and hopefully I can repay Port Adelaide football club with some good performances to finish off the year.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/former-tiger-matt-white-produces-one-of-the-goals-of-the-year-but-richmond-beats-port-at-etihad-stadium/story-fndv8s6g-1226987389878
