Greater Western Sydney has re-established its place in the top four, outlasting Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval to surge up to second on the ladder - extinguishing Port’s finals hopes in the process.
The Power looked the winners for the first two-and-a-half quarters before the GIANTS lifted in terrible conditions to win, 9.6 (60) to 11.13 (79).
Shane Mumford (49 hit-outs, 10 tackles) was typically influential, although he appeared to injure his knee late in the game. Dylan Shiel (28 disposals, two goals), Josh Kelly (30 disposals) and Heath Shaw (30 possessions) all played vital roles for the GIANTS, as did Robbie Gray (25 disposals, three goals), Ollie Wines (30 possessions), Brad Ebert (four goals) and Travis Boak (34 disposals) for the Power.
GIANTS coach Leon Cameron was overjoyed by the win, describing it as his side’s best in 2016.
"Our boys found a different way to win … it was a really great solid effort," Cameron said.
"That’s the thing I’m really proud of our players today; I thought it was our best win for the year."
Port’s loss has it three wins behind eighth-placed North Melbourne and with just five games remaining, a finals berth remains but a slim mathematical possibility.
Power coach Ken Hinkley said Sunday’s performance reflected Port’s standing in the competition.
"Tonight was another accurate assessment (of where we are at). We are OK when we are in it, but when they stepped on the pedal we weren’t able to keep going with them and they were just too good on the night," Hinkley said.
"When they (the top sides) have stepped up we just haven’t been able to stay with them."
Heavy rain and a blustery wind reduced the game to a scrap from the outset; both sides found it tough to hit a target and marking the slippery ball was all but impossible.
It took almost 18 minutes and 12-straight inside 50s before Port was able to kick the game’s first goal, Robbie Gray converting a free kick from 15m out.
The GIANTS couldn’t kick their first until the 10-minute mark of the second quarter, a goal-line snap from Toby Greene.
Straighter kicking would have reduced the deficit further too - but instead Port managed to again hurt its opponent on the counter-attack, Jarman Impey this time evading an opponent, luring another and handballing to Ebert for the easiest of goals.
After missing last week with a bruised lung, Ebert continued to throw himself into contests and a stray elbow sent him from the ground with blood streaming from the back of his head.
But just as the Power appeared perfectly positioned, the GIANTS flicked the switch; four goals in 10 minutes had them in front by three-quarter time.
They had assumed control at centre hit-outs and after one such clearance delivered a goal 30 seconds into the final term, a Power turnover at half-back allowed Jeremy Cameron to push his side 18 points ahead.
From there Port never threatened to retake the lead, the GIANTS scoring a vital win in the scheme of their season.
MEDICAL ROOM
Port Adelaide: Brad Ebert was crunched again in a marking contest, this time leaving him with a badly cut head. He was forced from the field with the blood rule on three occasions, but it shouldn’t sideline him next week.
Greater Western Sydney: The GIANTS will be sweating on the fitness of Shane Mumford after the star ruckman hobbled off in the last quarter with what appeared to be a knee injury. He will now have scans to reveal the seriousness of the damage.
NEXT UP
Port fly to Brisbane to take on the Lions, which is a game the club really needs to win, not only to remain mathematically capable of playing finals, but for the character of the group. The GIANTS face Richmond in Canberra - a game they should and absolutely need to win to remain in the top four.
PORT ADELAIDE 2.2 6.3 7.5 9.6 (60)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 0.2 2.7 7.11 11.13 (79)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Ebert 4, R.Gray 3, Wingard
Greater Western Sydney: Cameron 2, Smith 2, Shiel, Scully, Reid, Patton, Coniglio, Greene
BEST
Port Adelaide: Ebert, R.Gray, Pittard, Boak
Greater Western Sydney: Scully, Shaw, Mumford, Coniglio, Shiel, Kelly, Cameron, Haynes
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
Greater Western Sydney: Mumford (right knee)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Robert Finlay, Andrew Mitchell, Simon Meredith
Crowd: 27,935
