In what was undoubtedly one of the best Showdown finishes of all time, a last-gasp goal by new Port Adelaide recruit Steven Motlop has given Port Adelaide a famous five-point win in Showdown 44 at the Adelaide Oval.
Although a Mitch McGovern major put the Crows up by a point with just 42 seconds on the clock, Motlop managed to snatch back the lead after turning on the afterburners, sidestepping several Adelaide defenders and booting the game-winning goal from 40 metres out.
After trailing by 21 points at half-time, a five-goal third quarter by superstar Robbie Gray would be the difference for the Power, with the Crows again failing to produce a four quarter performance.
In typical Showdown fashion, it was a hectic start at the Adelaide Oval as both sides threw themselves at the contest early.
All-Australian ruckman, Paddy Ryder, would get proceedings underway, after marking a hack kick and goalling to give the crowd some life.
The Crows would absorb the Power pressure however, and get themselves on the board through wingman Rory Atkins.
Adelaide would settle into the game better than their crosstown rivals, as a strong pack mark by Josh Jenkins would give the Crows the lead before a class finish from Taylor Walker and strong mark by McGovern would give them a crucial early break.
Some missed opportunities would cost the Power late in the first term, allowing the Crows to hold on to a comfortable 17-point lead going into the first change.
Richard Douglas would put through Adelaide’s fifth unanswered goal to put the margin above 20 points as the Crows looked to continue their recent dominance over Port.
But the endeavour of the Power was as strong as ever, as Sam Gray brought them back within striking distance.
Two more goals to Adelaide would see the margin blow out to a game high 27 points, before a late goal to Robbie Gray helped break the Crows momentum, with the margin sitting at a healthy 21 points at half-time.
Port Adelaide came out determined in the third quarter, as they managed to get well on top around the clearances and were dominant around the contest.
Their focus would lead to immediate results, as Robbie Gray put through his second early in the third term to bring the margin within 20 points and kick-start his stellar five-goal term.
As Gray doubled the dose just minutes later to bring the deficit below 10 points, it was clear the Power were refusing to go down without a fight.
Despite Adelaide weathering the storm and booting two goals through Eddie Betts and Cam Ellis-Yolmen, it would once again take the heroics of Robbie Gray to put the Power on track to a stunning victory.
With the game on a knife-edge, Gray and Chad Wingard would come up big, piling on four goals in the last five minutes of the quarter - of which the former slotted three - to give themselves a 12-point lead at the final change.
After a poor third term in which they allowed their opposition back into the contest, Adelaide were expected to respond to the challenge laid down by the Power.
But a strong mark from Ryder early in the quarter would stretch Port Adelaide’s margin out to 18 points as they charged towards a famous victory.
A goal of the year contender from Betts would keep the Crows in the hunt five minutes into the quarter, as they managed to stem the flow of the Power and generate effective ball movement throughout the ground.
In his return game following a club suspension, Sam Powell-Pepper slammed home a long goal against the run of play to restore Port Adelaide’s three-goal lead going into the final stages of the game.
The Crows would begin to again get back on top around the ball in the second half of the last term, but were constantly denied by a gallant Port Adelaide defence.
With the game seemingly over, the Crows were finally able to break through as Betts put through his third to bring the margin back to 11 points with three minutes to go, before a strong mark and long goal from Walker would bring the margin back within a kick.
As the Crows continued to push, a costly turnover in the middle of the ground allowed Matt Crouch to hit up an in-form McGovern, who would convert to put the Crows up by a point with 42 seconds on the clock.
With all their numbers behind the ball, Port Adelaide were able to muster one last attacking push as three Crows players were knocked over in a high-speed collision giving new recruit Motlop an open shot on goal, which he converted to give the Power a famous five-point victory.
Port Adelaide will look to gain momentum from their inspiring win as they travel to Shanghai to face the Gold Coast next Saturday afternoon, while Adelaide will look to bounce back with a win against the Western Bulldogs next Friday night at Adelaide Oval.
PORT ADELAIDE 1.3 4.6 11.11 14.11 (95)
ADELAIDE 4.2 8.3 10.5 14.6 (90)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: R.Gray 6, Wingard 2, Ryder 2, S.Gray, Boak, Powell-Pepper, Motlop
Adelaide: Betts 3, Ellis-Yolmen 2, McGovern 2, Walker 2, Atkins, Jenkins, Douglas, Seedsman, Lynch
BEST
Port Adelaide: R.Gray, Jonas, Rockliff, Ryder, Polec
Adelaide: Laird, Atkins, Crouch, Greenwood, Ellis-Yolmen
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
Adelaide: Walker (glute), Jacobs (back spasms)
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