MELBOURNE has fallen disappointingly short to Port Adelaide, going down by two points at the MCG.
In what was a high-pressure contest from the first bounce, the Dees were unable to hold on to the lead with the final score set at 7.11 (53) to 7.9 (51).
The result puts paid to the Demons' 2024 campaign, leaving them two wins and percentage adrift of the top eight overnight.
Saturday's clash was tight all the way as both sides had plenty to play for, and by three-quarter time the margin was just three points with neither team leading by more than two goals to that stage.
Port grabbed the lead early in the last through Charlie Dixon's second goal, before Kozzie Pickett's fourth five minutes later snatched it back for Melbourne.
It was a war of attrition from that point as players threw themselves at every contest, scoring opportunities thin on the ground and under massive pressure.
Demons youngster Koltyn Tholstrup missed a set shot that would have gained some breathing space, before Power sub Quinton Narkle converted at the other end to level the scores.
From there it got even grittier, with Port managing two behinds that Melbourne couldn't answer.
Melbourne livewire Kysaiah Pickett had one of the best games of his career, threatening to overshadow Horne-Francis' heroics.
Pickett kicked a game-high four goals, with 21 possessions and eight score involvements to be clearly Melbourne's most influential player.
The Demons will almost certainly end the round with their slim finals hopes extinguished ahead of their last two games against Gold Coast (away) and Collingwood (MCG).
MELBOURNE 2.3 4.5 6.5 7.9 (51)
PORT ADELAIDE 2.4 3.8 5.8 7.11 (53)
GOALS
Melbourne: Pickett 4, Neal-Bullen, Langdon, Fritsch
Port Adelaide: Horne-Francis 2, Dixon 2, Byrne-Jones, Butters, Narkle
BEST
Melbourne: Pickett, Gawn, Viney, Neal-Bullen, Salem
Port Adelaide: Horne-Francis, Butters, Rozee, Houston, Boak
INJURIES
Melbourne: TBC
Port Adelaide: Marshall (concussion)
LATE CHANGES
Melbourne: Taj Woewodin (illness) replaced in selected side by Jack Billings; Jake Bowey replaced in selected side by Blake Howes
SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Jake Melksham, replaced Jacob van Rooyen in the fourth quarter
Port Adelaide: Quinton Narkle, replaced Todd Marshall at half-time
Crowd: 17,867 at the MCG
