Port Adelaide has knocked Melbourne out of top-four and taken the position for themselves following a gutsy final quarter comeback under the Friday night lights of Adelaide Oval.
The Power trailed at every change and were smacked in the inside 50s, contested possessions and clearances count, yet managed to keep the Demons goalless in the fourth term and eventually run out as 10-point victors.
Sam Powell-Pepper was the embodiment of the physical and gritty game, finishing with 17 tackles and 15 touches, while his equally formidable counterpart in Ollie Wines finished with 29 disposals.
The ruck duel between Max Gawn and Paddy Ryder was an equally enthralling contest, with Ryder's influence - despite losing the hit-out count to Gawn 40-53 - crucial throughout the entire match.
Although the Demons slotted the first three goals of the game, it took a considerable amount of time for them - or their opposition for that matter - to chalk up a major next to their name.
Both teams were on in most other departments however, with their respective tackling pressure and intensity evident from the get-go thanks to the bullish approach from Jack Viney and Sam Powell-Pepper.
The physical brand of football came at a cost to both sides' composure however, with sloppy handballs, errant shots and goal and spilled marks present throughout the entire quarter.
An Oscar McDonald late bump on Todd Marshall added to the game's niggle, yet it was the Demons who ultimately capitalised, with Mitch Hannan squeezing through the first of the night at the 21-minute mark of the term.
Melbourne soon found their feet as the Power crumbled in the subsequent few minutes, with Tom McDonald converting a minute after Hannan's goal, before a defensive fumble in the goal square afforded Christian Petracca the Dees' third.
One last desperate tackle and goal after the siren from Brad Ebert steadied the ship for the Power, with the much-needed goal seeing the home side trail by just 14 points at quarter-time.
Melbourne had all the ascendancy by quarter's end, smacking the Power in the clearances (4-11) and the inside 50s (6-18) to have a sound grip early on in the game.
As the inside 50 count only continued to grow in the second term (17-39), Port Adelaide nonetheless hit the scoreboard to great effect, outscoring their opponents three goals to one.
The Power struggled to move the ball up the ground initially thanks to the sweeping role of Jordan Lewis, as well as the Power having no one forward of centre when the footy came out of their defence.
But it was Port who got on the board first, with Ebert again duly converting to cut the margin back to just 14 points after another lengthy period of no scoring.
With the visitors on the back foot and the home side beginning the click into gear, Chad Wingard capitalised only moments later to kick the Power's third consecutive major and subsequently level the scores.
The solid form from Port Adelaide nevertheless came in patches, yet Powell-Pepper was consistent throughout the term, finishing with 10 tackles and keeping his direct opponent in Clayton Oliver to 12 touches at the main change.
Port's run seemingly came to an end when McDonald snapped his second, but Steven Motlop provided some zip of his own to provide Travis Boak a captain's goal to once again narrow the margin.
As Viney continued to get stuck into the opposition after the siren, the Demons left the field with a slim two-point advantage and agitate the irritated Power.
If the bubbling tempers between the two sides at half-time was anything to go by, the stage was set for an explosive second half.
And it certainly didn't disappoint going into the third quarter, with the game opening right up, allowing players and goals - nine of which were kicked for the term - to flow.
Contrary to the fist half, the opening goals of the quarter came after just two minutes of play, with Hannan securing his second before Robbie Gray showed some trademark magic with a dribbler in the pocket.
As the Demons jagged through three more courtesy of Timothy Smith, Jake Melksham and Christian Salem, Melbourne made it four goals from six inside 50s, placing the Power well and truly under the pump.
But the Power never bowed out of the contest, getting their engine room up and running and becoming far more dangerous through their ball use and flair.
Gray would fittingly ooze class despite the pressure, converting his second to claw Port's way back into the contest, before some slack defensive work from the Demons undid all their hard work, with Charlie Dixon the final benefactor.
The tight arm wrestle continued as the Dees and Power exchanged goals via McDonald and Justin Westhoff, yet the home side continued to look more dangerous as they finally found their mojo under the Friday night lights.
As the tussle continued for the remainder of the half with no side showing any signs of backing down, the margin sat at just eight points at the final change.
But the Power edged their way in front in a dominant final quarter display, booting three unanswered goals to clinch the victory in the game's dying stages.
The tight affair of the opening half resumed in the final term, with almost nine minutes elapsing before Lindsay Thomas brought the margin back to within two points.
Melbourne were faced with another issue as Tom McDonald and Neville Jetta were both taken from the field following a heavy bump and head clash with Sam Gray respectively.
The small Power forward made his impact felt in a different way just moments later, putting Port Adelaide in front for the first time since the opening quarter.
A costly 50m penalty against Dom Tyson afforded Westhoff an opportunity to not only chew valuable seconds off the clock, but extend the Power's margin to 11 points with five minutes left to play.
As the Demons peppered their forward line, a mark inside 50 proved elusive as the clock continued to run down, bringing Melbourne's top-four hopes down with it.
Angus Brayshaw was unlucky not to be paid a mark in front of goal in the final minutes of the term, but irrespective, it proved to be too late for the Demons as the Power ran out as 10-point victors and leapt into the top-four.
Port Adelaide will be hoping to further consolidate their position in the top-eight against Carlton next Saturday at the MCG, while Melbourne will be of the same mindset the following day when they face St Kida at the same venue.
PORT ADELAIDE 1.3 4.6 8.7 11.9 (75)
MELBOURNE 3.5 4.8 9.9 9.11 (65)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Westhoff 2, Ebert 2, R. Gray 2, Boak, Thomas, WIngard, Dixon, R. Gray
Melbourne: T. McDonald 3, Hannan 2, T. Smith, Petracca, Salem, Melksham
BEST
Port Adelaide: Wines, Powell-Pepper, Ryder, Jonas, Westhoff
Melbourne: Viney, T. McDonald, Jones, Brayshaw, Gawn
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
Melbourne: Nil
TALKING POINTS
1. THE STATS SOMETIMES LIE, BUT THE LADDER NEVER DOES
At a first glance at the stats sheet, it would seem as if Port Adelaide would have been pumped by no less than 10 goals by a fast and fully-firing Melbourne outfit.
Obliterated in the clearance count (38-54) and inside 50 count (39-68), it would have undoubtedly come as a surprise for anyone who didn't seen the match to say the Power up by 10 points at the final siren.
The steely Power got their nails dirty and despite a patchy first half, clawed their way back into the game to overrun the gassed Demons.
Armed with a pressure-laden second half and a willingness to remain within the contest, Port Adelaide were rewarded for their efforts with the four points from tonight putting them into the top-four.
It wasn't a pretty win by any means - the notion of the Power being contenders or pretenders will still linger irrespective of the victory - but one which nonetheless gets them into that all-important position on the ladder.
2. DEES ALMOST MAKE FRIDAY NIGHT COUNT AND LOSE FOURTH SPOT IN THE PROCESS
The Demons had just one shot this year to impress on Friday night, and while they certainly did deliver a sound quality of game, it wasn't enough for them to secure the four points.
Many would argue the visitors deserved to win - and they were the better side for most of the night - but the Demons ultimately couldn't hang on in the final term.
It no doubt proved to be a costly loss, with Melbourne relinquishing their position in the top-four and the Power taking their place in the crucial fourth spot on the ladder.
With matches against St Kilda, Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs to come, the Dees stand a good chance of bouncing back into the top-four.
But with Collingwood and Port Adelaide having draws of equal difficulty to come, it might not been so clean-cut for Melbourne to rebound.
A win would have been the perfect response to their disappointing Queen's Birthday encounter, but tonight's game will do no harm to Melbourne's aspirations of securing more Friday night spots in season 2019.
3. FINAL MARK TO BRAYSHAW?
There were several contentious non-decisions paid on the night, even with the additional fourth umpire, yet one call involving Angus Brayshaw proved to be the most controversial of them all.
With just under two minutes left on the clock and the Demons less than two goals down, a spearing pass from Nathan Jones found a leading Brayshaw 30m out from goal almost dead in front.
But a late spoil from the Power defence nullified the would-be mark, allowing the Power to push the ball up their end of the ground and limit any chance of stealing back the lead.
Upon replay, it looked as if Brayshaw had control of the ball, yet either way, it would have been a miraculous feat if the Demons had have kicked a second just moments later.
4. MATCH-UPS LIVE UP TO ALL THE HYPE
Several key match-ups were dwelling on the minds of supporters in the lead-up to the highly anticipated clash between the two prospective finalists, and all were just as impressive as initially conceived.
The two midfield bulls from Echuca in Ollie Wines and Jack Viney were ferocious in their approach all night, with both utilising their sheer strength and endurance on countless occasions.
Both were best on ground for their respective sides, with Wines finishing with 29 touches against Viney's 31.
The battle in the centre between Paddy Ryder and Max Gawn similarly was an intriguing battle all night, with the latter edging out the individual hit-out count 40-53.
With the two All Australian ruckmen going toe-to-toe, it was still difficult to determine who truly played the better game as both big men were extremely influential all over the ground.
One-all draw?
5. JACK-OFF PUT ON HOLD
Another duel which ultimately never came to fruition, yet one which would undoubtedly have added another level of intrigue to the contest.
Melbourne's two prized draft picks in Jack Watts (pick No.1, 2008) and Jack Trengove (pick No. 2, 2009) since parted ways with the club last season, and each ended up at the Power.
Watts has been kept out of the side for the past few weeks through form issues, while Trengove is yet to make his senior debut for the Power, despite sound performances in the SANFL.
Undoubtedly, both players would have liked to have been out on the field to prove a point against their former sides, yet it looks as if another year will have to pass before the two get their chance to impress.
Or perhaps if the finals draw works out well, a clash between the two clubs could come sooner than previously thought.
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