Port Adelaide 4.1 9.2 13.9 20.13  (133)
St Kilda       4.4 9.8 14.9 15.10  (100)
GOALS
Port: R. Gray 4, Ebert, Dixon, Wingard 3, Westhoff 2, Wines, Schulz, Broadbent, Boak, Ah Chee.
St Kilda: Lonie 3, Riewoldt, Weller, Bruce 2, Gilbert, Steven, Gresham, Newnes, Acres, Armitage.
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Power surge in final term to stop Saints
Port Adelaide have booted seven goals to one in the final quarter to overwhelm St Kilda.
BEST – Port: S. Gray, Pittard, R. Gray, Ebert, Broadbent, Hartlett. St Kilda: Hickey, Steven, Gilbert, Armitage, Fisher, Montagna, Gilbert.
INJURIES: Port: White (shoulder). REPORTS: Nil. UMPIRES: C. Deboy, M. Nicholls, C. Kamolins.
CROWD: 43,807 at Adelaide Oval
The Power may have snatched the premiership points with a 33-point win at Adelaide Oval, but no one can take away the much-revived spirit of the Saints and the hope of their fans.
They were never supposed to be a chance and they looked the better side for three quarters, but as much as St Kilda deserve recognition the good sides take the battle until the end.
You've got to admire Port for their showing of character to recover from a 21-point deficit 20 minutes into the third quarter in which they kicked 4.7 to the Saints' 5.1. Their dominance in the last quarter was reminiscent of their best, and signs that the Saints, as encouraging as their effort was, still have a way to go.
St Kilda's dramatic fade-out – and Port's dominance with a 7.4 to 1.1 last term – ended what had been a great contest.
It was sad that Nick Riewoldt was jeered for taking a mark and kicking a goal late in the game because it stopped Port's run of nine goals, and disappointing he didn't get applause as it was his 650th.
This win got down to persistence and Port finding a few key players who came good after very quiet performances based on their fine reputations.
Charlie Dixon wasn't one that created this revival. His much-anticipated debut for the Power was overall average... dropped marks, poor shots for goal, but not without trying to getting into the thick of play and knocking the Saints over like pins. He finished with three goals – all from free kicks – but there were signs he will be a lot more dangerous against Adelaide this week.
Port's three-pronged talls attack with Dixon, Justin Westhoff and Jay Schulz wasn't as effective as expected, and it was largely Robbie Gray's three goals in the third quarter and Brad Ebert's admirable desire to win the hard ball amidst the forward stoppages that gave Port the edge on the scoreboard early in the last term.
In fairness, Port missed run and creativity of wingman Matt White when he suffered a right shoulder injury late in the first quarter seemed to unsettle them in the first half.
The good parts about the Saints were obvious... their ability to win the hard ball in congestion, the manner in which they moved the ball end-to-end swiftly and sharply, and compared with last season their improved decision making under pressure.
The performance in ruck by Tom Hickey was amazing – 57 hit-outs and 20 disposals, an effort almost matched by Port's Sam Gray, who had 37 disposals.
As good as the result was, for most part there were concerns with Port's game plan. They seemed to want to protect the open spaces yet allowed their opposition to find gaps. They seemed to under-estimate the confidence of the young Saints; their willingness to take the game on by running and having teammates backing up.
There was a lot to like about the Saints, but not for long enough. It's been 245 days since they have won, but better times are ahead. Their coach Alan Richardson played a huge role in Port's revival when he was their director of coaching, and there is no doubt he is taking St Kilda on the same road to recovery. It's just that there's still a long way to go.