North Adelaide beat Port Adelaide by two points

NORTH Adelaide revived its finals hopes and reopened the race for the minor premiership by handing top side Port Adelaide a two-point defeat at Alberton on Saturday.

12-7-14 - SANFL - Round 13 - Port Adelaide v North Adelaide at Alberton Oval - Andrew Moore Picture Simon Cross

NORTH Adelaide revived its finals hopes and reopened the race for the minor premiership by handing top side Port Adelaide a two-point defeat at Alberton on Saturday.

The Roosters' season appeared shot after last week's 78 point loss to South but the upset win over the Magpies — combined with the Panthers' and Norwood's defeats yesterday — saw them climb within a game and percentage of fifth.

"That gives us some incentive to keep fighting for it," North coach Ken McGregor said.

"But our biggest issue is consistency and we're going to need to put together a run of five really good games to have a chance."

McGregor labelled the win — which saw his team fight back from a 19 point deficit at three quarter time — as North's best this season.

Leigh Ryswyk and Matt Campbell capitalised on their teammates ability to force turnovers in the middle of the ground, combining for six goals, and Todd Miles marshalled the defence.

But it was the work of the midfield — so poor the week before against South — which was the difference.

James Craig had the upper hand over hard-working Magpies ruckman Angus Bruggemann and Jay Shannon, Joe Anderson and Cohen Thiele feasted on the supply.

"I definitely think that's our best win in terms of a four quarter effort," McGregor said.

"I just thought they were on all day and they needed to be against Port." The Magpies jumped out to an early lead with some ruthless finishing in front of goal and held it for most of the game.

Youngster Karl Amon is another gem Port can unleash on the AFL in the next year or two, he's a classy finisher and kicked four first half goals.

Paul Stewart suggested he could be ready for another call-up soon and Jake Johansen has returned from the national under-18 championships without missing a beat.

And with Steven Summerton stamping his mark on the game with an 11 disposal third quarter which he capped with a goal after the siren, the Magpies looked home.

But North wouldn't be denied, kicking 4.6 to 1.3 in the final term and eventually taking the lead with a series of behinds late in the game.

"They fed off our errors and in the end it looked like they wanted to win more than us," Magpies coach Garry Hocking said.