Leapfrog over: Port Adelaide Power Top four in the AFL with Melbourne Demons
With a valiant 10-point comeback victory over the Demons, Port Adelaide has surpassed Melbourne and moved into the top four of the AFL.
In front of a crowd of 40,751 spectators at Adelaide Oval, the Power heroically prevailed 11.9 (75) to 9.11 (65), trailing at every change and by 20 points halfway through the third quarter.
Ollie Wines, a midfielder who was recently re-signed, led the way with 29 possessions, and Sam Powell-Pepper set a new club record with 17 tackles, just two short of the all-time AFL record.
Max Gawn (53 hitouts) and Jack Viney (30 disposals, 14 clearances) led the visitors, who looked strong throughout the night before losing steam late.
Robbie Gray was fully surrounded by Neville Jetta in the opening minutes as Melbourne held the advantage of a 21-minute scoreless tie before breaking the tie with three goals in as many minutes.
After the quarter-time siren, Brad Ebert finally got Port’s first major in, and he added another early in the second.
The Power then abruptly tied the score when Chad Wingard successfully converted from the pocket after disputably receiving a mark.
Even though the visitors had a huge advantage in inside 50s (39-17) and clearances (28-15), their lead at halftime was only two points.
Early in the third, Melbourne again pulled 20 points up, but the Power kept making progress.
Using two third-quarter majors to escape Jetta’s grasp, Robbie Gray, Justin Westhoff, and
Port scored during the latter half to cut the deficit to eight points before promptly finishing the play.
Sam Gray converted a free kick after being lifted high by Jetta to give the Power their first lead since the game’s opening minutes as the Demons went ice-cold. Lindsay Thomas then scored after being mysteriously left alone to bag an uncontested mark in attack.
After Oscar McDonald gave up a 50-meter penalty, Westhoff blasted from long range, and Port hit six of the final seven goals to easily win. Angus Brayshaw was disallowed a mark within the Demons’ 50-yard line.
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