MELBOURNE has withstood a stunning comeback from Port Adelaide and snapped a three-game losing streak with a thrilling one-point win at Darwin's TIO Stadium on Saturday night.
After trailing by 33 points at three-quarter time, the Power rattled home with an eight-goal-to-three final term, but the siren sounded as they streamed into attack with the Demons in front - 17.9 (111) to 16.14 (110).
With each side out on its feet because of the hot and humid conditions, Melbourne veteran Brad Green goaled to tie the scores with just under five minutes to play.
Mark Jamar looked to have the match in his keeping when he marked in the goal square, but the ball was touched leading to a ball-up.
First-year player Jack Trengove then punched through a rushed behind that proved the difference, while Alipate Carlile's error in stepping over the line from the resultant kick-in hindered his side's possible reply.
It was an ending that looked highly unlikely given how the fleet-footed Demons went about the first three quarters.
They opened the game brightly with Jack Watts kicking two early goals, but the Power slowly fought their way back with Travis Boak (25 possessions, three goals) important in helping his side trim the deficit back to 11 points.
The trend repeated itself in the second term as the Dees bounced away to a 30-point lead on the back of Brad Miller, who finished the match with five goals.
However, Jason Davenport bobbed up with two goals of his own to keep Port within striking distance.
Port would have been hoping for more déjà vu as Melbourne skipped away early in the third, but had no answer to its opponent's excellent run and handball out of defence.
The match looked well in Melbourne's grasp, and no one at the ground would have had any inkling of the high drama that was about to unfold.
Melbourne 5.2 9.6 14.7 17.9 (111)
Port Adelaide 3.3 7.6 8.10 16.14 (110)
GOALS
Melbourne: Miller 5, Bennell 4, Green 3, Watts 2, Jetta, Sylvia, Wonaeamirri
Port Adelaide: Boak 3, Hitchcock 3, Davenport 2, Schulz, C.Cornes, Motlop, Pearce, Salopek, Rodan, Ebert, Trengove
BEST
Melbourne: Green, Frawley, Davey, Jetta, McDonald, Miller, Sylvia, Trengove
Port Adelaide: Boak, Chaplin, K.Cornes, Stewart, Carlile, Cassisi, Rodan
INJURIES
Melbourne: Spencer (back) replaced in selected side by Jetta
Port Adelaide: Gray (back) replaced in selected side by Nash, Surjan (hip)
Reports: Moloney (Melbourne) by field umpire Sully for forceful contact on Logan (Port Adelaide) in the fourth quarter
Umpires: McLaren, Sully, Findlay
Official crowd: 8848 at TIO Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
