PORT ADELAIDE remains undefeated after pulling off a stunning comeback to bury its cross-town rival Adelaide by nine points at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.
Trailing by 31 10 minutes into the third term, Justin Westhoff triggered a remarkable revival with two goals in two minutes to help the Power to a 17.16 (118) to 16.13 (109) win in the Balfours Showdown.
Westhoff finished with four goals all kicked in the second half as Port booted nine of the last 12 goals of the game to bank its third consecutive win.
Captain Travis Boak, who won the Showdown Medal as best afield with three goals, and Chad Wingard (also three goals) were both vital.
Wingard kicked back-to-back goals to open the fourth term, including a miraculous dribble shot from the pocket, to wrestle back the momentum.
While Crow Richard Douglas kicked a steadier minutes later, an undisciplined free kick and 50m penalty given away by Bernie Vince led to another Wingard goal and left a lead Adelaide couldn't reel in.
It's a free kick that is likely to continue to reverberate for the Crows with Vince reported for the late and head high hit. Nathan van Berlo may be absent too after being subbed off with an injured leg.
Kane Cornes was sensational in his 23rd Showdown for Port while Oliver Wines showed he's going to have a prolific career.
Adelaide spearhead Taylor Walker booted three majors while onballers Rory Sloane and Scott Thompson were solid performers.
Remarkably, the win leaves Port second on the ladder and Adelaide reeling in the bottom half of ladder with just one win.
The Crows host Western Bulldogs next Sunday while Port travels to play Gold Coast on Saturday night.
More to come
PORT ADELAIDE 5.2 6.9 12.13 17.16 (118)
ADELAIDE 4.4 9.6 13.7 16.13 (109)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Westhoff 4, Boak, Wingard 3, Wines, Monfries 2, Broadbent, Neade, Schulz
Adelaide: Walker 3, Douglas, Sloane, Jenkins 2, Dangerfield, Henderson, Reilly, Otten, Petrenko, Porplyzia, Johncock
BEST
Port Adelaide: Boak, Westhoff, Hartlett, Cornes, Wines, Wingard
Adelaide: Thompson, Sloane, Douglas, Dangerfield, Henderson, Walker
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
Adelaide: van Berlo (leg)
SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Kane Mitchell replaced Paul Stewart at half time
Adelaide: Bernie Vince replaced Nathan van Berlo in the third quarter
Reports: Bernie Vince for charging Chad Wingard in the fourth quarter.
Umpires: Fleer, Schmitt, Hay
Official crowd: 40,707 at AAMI Stadium
