Is this the most bizarre start to an AFL game EVER? Star leaves fans and experts stunned with an all-time brain explosion
With a crowd of more than 46,000 packed into Adelaide Oval, Port star Miles Bergman swooped in seconds after play began, grabbed the first clearance of the match - and promptly booted the ball about 50 metres downfield... in the wrong direction.
To make matters even worse, his punt fell straight to Crows forward Darcy Fogarty, who marked it and kicked the first goal of what turned out to be a very lopsided win for his side.
'He's kicked it the wrong way!' an incredulous Dwayne Russell said in commentary for Fox Sports.
'He's kicked it straight to - this is hard to believe - Fogarty's going to have a line-up at goal.
'Can you believe that a player would kick the wrong way? How could a professional do that?'
The commentary panel weren't the only ones left stunned by Bergman's brain snap.
'That is unforgivable.. what a Wally,' one fan wrote on X.
'I'm a Port fan and this is hilarious to me,' another wrote after seeing the incident on TikTok.
Other comments included, 'Great kick! Forwards could not ask for better service', and, 'Getting paid thousands and can't even remember which way he's meant to kick.'
After the match, Crows star Jake Soligo showed some compassion for his rival.
'I've had to think about not doing that a couple of times, it is hard,' he told the ABC.
'But it hit Fog [Fogarty] right on the t**.'
Once that early moment of madness was out of the way, the Crows' Riley Thilthorpe dominated during his team's record 98-point belting of their arch foe, which lifted Adelaide to the top of the AFL ladder.
Thilthorpe booted three goals in a 20.13 (133) to 5.5 (35) victory - the biggest margin in a Showdown - on a sodden Saturday night at Adelaide Oval.
The Crows will sleep on top of the ladder, though Collingwood will likely retake pole position on Sunday with a win over Richmond.
Adelaide will finish the round no lower than second after logging five consecutive victories for the first time under sixth-year coach Matthew Nicks.
'You dream about performances like that,' Nicks said.
The sole blemish on Saturday night was a hamstring injury to Max Michalanney, who was substituted in the third quarter.
The 201cm-tall Thilthorpe defied the heavy rain with his influential 19-disposal display featuring six clearances, and veteran Taylor Walker and Ben Keays booted three goals each.
Adelaide's Jake Soligo (35 disposals) and Sam Berry (20 touches) scored two goals each.
On-baller James Peatling (26, one goal) and captain and 150-gamer Jordan Dawson (21, one goal) were also prominent, while Mark Keane and Josh Worrell ruled in defence.
The Power slumped to an 8-11 win-loss record amid more concerns with Lachie Jones substituted because of a corked thigh and Jack Lukosius suffering a calf injury.
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