PORT ADELAIDE 2.3 3.5 5.7 9.9 (63)
ST KILDA 1.3 2.8 3.12 8.13 (61)
Goals: Port Adelaide: A Young B Ebert C Dixon J Impey J Polec J Trengove J Westhoff K Amon R Gray. St Kilda: T Membrey 3 B Acres J Gresham J Lonie J Sinclair L Dunstan
Best: Port Adelaide: Ryder, Polec, R. Gray, Byrne-Jones, Wines, Pittard St Kilda: Membrey, Roberton,White. Ross, Dunstan, Webster
Injuries: St Kilda: R. Marshall replaced in selected side by D. McKenzie
Umpires: Robert Findlay, Chris Kamolins, Andrew Stephens
Official Crowd: 30,335 at Adelaide Oval
With just seven seconds remaining Port Adelaide won a thriller over St Kilda at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night and virtually saved their spot in the finals.
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Gray goal breaks Saints hearts in final seconds
Port Adelaide's Robbie Gray scores a goal from 50 metres in the final seconds to beat St Kilda at Adelaide Oval.
It wasn't the greatest performance in a torrid battle of turnovers, but given the remarkable finish and the what could have been for the Saints this was one of Port's most memorable.
After kicking just three goals in the opening three quarters, St Kilda seemed to have the game wrapped up with five last-quarter goals to lead by 10 points with 50 seconds remaining.
Up jumped Aaron Young with a goal, and in the dying moments Robbie Gray plucked the victory with a shot on the run from 55 metres.
The Saints were left devastated. They didn't make a mistake to lose the game in these gut-wrenching moments; Port simply won it with sheer never-say-die belief.
Until this gripping finish, it was largely a very ordinary contest and both sides would have rued their countless mistakes and turnovers. Port led the clangers 49-33, and while they kicked nine goals from 60 inside-50 entries the Saints kicked eight from 54.
For most part it was if they were both scared to lose this game, and it was only in the last quarter that they became brave and rose to the expectation of two sides desperate for the premiership points in the closing stages of the home-and-away season.
A record-low crowd of 30,335 at the revamped stadium braved the early rains, and while the conditions were greasy there were no excuses for the shared poor efficiency. We've probably seen better umpiring too, but in fairness this wasn't an easy contest to control with so much scragging and the ball slipping out of hands.
The frustration for both coaches was that for so long the game was there to be torn apart, but for most part neither side could take control. There was a lot of pressure and it wasn't easy gaining a possession in the numerous stoppages, but too often the quality play was wasted with poor decision-making or ball-handling areas. No one could question the toughness or desperation, just the failure to finish off their play. The Saints in particular cost themselves dearly by not taking enough contested marks inside 50, and too often Port scrambled their way out of trouble.
Full credit to Port for finding a way to win in difficult circumstances, and when Brad Ebert picked off a Saints turnover 12 minutes into the last quarter and kicked a magnificent goal from 51 metres for a 13-point lead one sensed for a rare time that they had finally grabbed this game. The Saints answered from a superb gathering from the back of a pack by Jade Gresham. From there it was like two giants awakening. They both had their key performers without starring, Port with Paddy Ryder, Jared Polec and, of course, Gray, who spent a lot more time midfield in the absence of Chad Wingard.
For a while there Tim Membrey looked the match hero for the Saints with two of his three goals coming in a spirited last-quarter effort. Sebastian Ross was very good too, as was Luke Dunstan.
A highlight for the Saints was the outstanding performance by Brandon White in just his second game. He was terrific with his rebounding efforts, and sheer hard work.
Ultimately, this was a cruel stealing of what seemed a certain Saints win. They displayed courage to come from behind when they looked beaten, only to fall short by seven seconds. Given the fact they could have been sitting even closer to the top four and must now find something special to contest the finals, this may proved to be their longest seven seconds of their season.