Port Adelaide have withstood a blistering St Kilda comeback to salvage a narrow win and keep their AFL finals hopes in their own hands.
The Saints turned around a 39-point halftime deficit, and a Port lead which stretched to 46 points at one stage in the second term, to come within five points of victory at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
The Power ran out 14.13 (97) to 13.14 (92) winners to climb back into the top eight.
Port completely dominated the first half, but the momentum was shifted forcibly by St Kilda’s star players and their sheer will to win in the second.
Midfield trio Leigh Montagna, Jack Steven and Nick Dal Santo were dominant, while skipper Nick Riewoldt was also inspirational as the Saints kicked nine goals to four in the second half.
Steven’s two final quarter goals were critical in helping St Kilda reel in Port’s 16-point lead early in the final term.
The Saints finally grabbed the lead with just over 10 minutes remaining when first-gamer Tom Curren goaled – though there were a few nervous moments as he had to await a video review before it was confirmed.
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Port then regained the lead with a contentious free-kick for a trip, then a 50-metre penalty, which gifted Jasper Pittard a chance to put his side back in front.
From then, Port hung on – with Justin Westhoff pulling off two huge marks in defence late in the match to help his side seal victory.
Forward John Butcher booted three goals, while Westhoff also kicked two goals to go with his defensive heroics.
Steven and Ben McEvoy kicked three goals each for the Saints, while Montagna finished with 35 disposals.
Port now have an 9-7 win-loss record, and have climbed back above Carlton – one-point Friday night winners over North Melbourne – into eighth on the ladder.
St Kilda have won just three matches this season.
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After the match Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley warned his players to keep working as hard, or risk letting slip their strong position.
Hinkley was thrilled with both how his team performed in an irresistible first half, and in the way they hung on in the second.
“We know that if we don’t work as hard as we did tonight, we’ll get ourselves in trouble,” he said.
“I almost don’t want to talk about the outcome (finals). We’ll get what we deserve. We deserved to win the game.
“Yes, it was a game of two halves but we were brave and strong and hung on when we needed to.”
Port’s clash next weekend with the resurgent Brisbane Lions, who posted their third successive win by beating Melbourne in Darwin on Saturday night, looms as pivotal in shaping the base of the top eight.
In other Satruday games, Gold Coast had its first win over a top eight side, beating Collingwood by seven.
HAWTHORN 4.6 6.9 7.12 13.17 (95)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.3 3.7 5.9 11.10 (76)
Goals: Hawthorn: J Roughead 3 J Lewis 2 J Simpkin 2 L Hodge 2 B Whitecross C Rioli L Breust P Puopolo. Western Bulldogs: D Giansiracusa 2 L Dahlhaus 2 R Griffen 2 T Dickson 2 D Addison J Grant L Jones.
Best: Hawthorn: J Lewis L Hodge B Sewell I Smith B Hill J Roughead J Gibson. Western Bulldogs: R Griffen L Picken A Cooney T Liberatore D Morris D Giansiracusa R Murphy.
Injuries: Hawthorn: S Mitchell (ill) replaced in selected side by B Sewell. Western Bulldogs: B Goodes (suspected broken arm).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Justin Schmitt, Jordan Bannister, Leigh Fisher.
Official Crowd: 14,022 at Aurora Stadium.
ESSENDON 5.0 8.3 14.6 18.8 (116)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY GIANTS 5.3 6.3 9.4 11.11 (77)
Goals: Essendon: T Colyer 4 B Stanton 2 J Melksham 2 M Hurley 2 B Goddard C Dell’Olio C Hooker D Myers L Jetta N Kommer N O’Brien T Bellchambers. Greater Western Sydney Giants: J Cameron 4 J Giles 4 A Tomlinson A Treloar L Whitfield.
Best: Essendon: T Colyer J Melksham C Dell’Olio B Stanton M Hibberd D Myers. Greater Western Sydney Giants: J Giles J Cameron T Mohr D Shiel T Adams T Greene.
Injuries: Essendon: Nil. Greater Western Sydney Giants: T Scully (concussion) replaced in selected side by W Hoskin-Elliott, S Gilham (soreness) replaced in selected side by J Bruce.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Shane McInerney, Andrew Mitchell, Tristan Burgess.
Official Crowd: 10,783 at Skoda Stadium.
GOLD COAST SUNS 3.4 7.6 11.7 13.7 (85)
COLLINGWOOD 2.7 6.9 8.10 11.12 (78)
Goals: Gold Coast Suns: J Brennan 3 J O’Meara 3 G Ablett 2 S Day 2 D Prestia J Harbrow S Tape. Collingwood: D Swan 2 J Elliott 2 T Cloke 2 D Beams P Seedsman S Dwyer S Sidebottom T Goldsack.
Best: Gold Coast Suns: G Ablett J O’Meara J Brennan T McKenzie J Harbrow H Bennell. Collingwood: D Beams D Swan S Dwyer S Pendlebury M Williams S Sidebottom.
Injuries: Gold Coast Suns: Nil. Collingwood: N Brown (groin) replaced in selected side by L Keefe.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Scott Jeffery, Chris Kamolins, Brendan Hosking.
Venue: Gold Coast Stadium.
BRISBANE 3.4 8.5 11.12 13.16 (94)
MELBOURNE 5.1 6.5 10.7 11.9 (75)
Goals: Brisbane: B Staker 3 J Green 3 D Merrett 2 J Redden 2 D Zorko J Lisle S Mayes. Melbourne: J Fitzpatrick 4 A Davey 2 S Blease 2 C Dawes N Jones S Byrnes.
Best: Brisbane: T Rockliff P Hanley J Redden B Staker A Raines M Maguire. Melbourne: C Sylvia J Viney J Fitzpatrick J Frawley S Byrnes A Davey.
Injuries: Brisbane: J Brown (hip) replaced in selected side by J Lidle. Melbourne: C Garland (ankle) J Fitzpatrick (knee).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Robert Findlay, Heath Ryan, Gary Fila.
Official Crowd: 7,615 at TIO Stadium.
PORT ADELAIDE 7.4 10.8 11.10 14.13 (97)
ST KILDA 2.2 4.5 9.9 13.14 (92)
Goals: Port Adelaide: J Butcher 3 C Wingard 2 J Pittard 2 J Westhoff 2 A Monfries J Schulz K Mitchell M Lobbe R Gray. St Kilda: B McEvoy 3 J Steven 3 N Riewoldt 2 T Lee 2 L Hayes S Milne T Curren.
Best: Port Adelaide: J Westhoff C Wingard M Broadbent M Lobbe H Hartlett J Butcher J Pittard. St Kilda: L Montagna J Steven N Dal Santo N Riewoldt D Armitage B McEvoy.
Umpires: Stuart Wenn, Troy Pannell, Matthew Leppard.
Venue: Etihad Stadium.
