Fast-finishing Port Adelaide Power makes its point with AFL victory over West Coast Eagles in Perth

THERE’S your top-eight scalp, another win on the road, some character building fight and, at long last, straight kicking — all of which finally gives Port Adelaide top-four credibility.

Chad Wingard battles the Eagles’ Scott Lycett for the ball during their clash in Perth. Picture: Paul Kane (Getty Images)

• Hinkley hails important win
• Analysis: Port on target, on song
• Win provides ‘significant’ belief: Ryder
• Bone rates the Port players

THERE’S your top-eight scalp, another win on the road, some character building fight and, at long last, straight kicking — all of which finally gives Port Adelaide top-four credibility.

The Power answered the critics and stared down its own insecurities to reclaim fourth spot on the ladder with a 32-point win over West Coast in Perth.

Charlie Dixon kicked 5.1 in an emphatic display and Chad Wingard graduated not just from forward to midfielder but to game-winning midfielder after he turned the match with a brilliant third quarter.

But the most impressive part of Port Adelaide’s game was how it found a way to win when the Eagles exposed cracks in its side.

The doubts were coming thick and fast when after kicking the first four goals, the Power conceded the next seven.

The backline looked undersized — just like against Essendon and GWS — and the forwardline needed a second target alongside Dixon.

But Ken Hinkley held his nerve, resisted any urge to send Jackson Trengove back and the big man kicked two game-defining goals in the final term.

At the other end, Tom Clurey and Tom Jonas, who had been shown up in the first half, turned the tide, with Clurey out-marking Jack Darling at crucial moments and Jonas’s bump on Jamie Cripps stopping a certain goal in the fourth term.

They weren’t the only important moments in the final term, which began with scores level.

Robbie Gray gets his handball away against the Eagles. Picture: Paul Kane (Getty Images)

Jarman Impey had just five touches in the first three quarters and had looked badly out of touch when he laid a goal-saving tackle on Andrew Gaff, then got the ball forward to deliver a two-goal turnaround.

Robbie Gray was also ice-cool under pressure and in the face of such woeful kicking from his side this season, he delivered two brilliant set shots to help win the game.

While Ollie Wines and Brad Ebert did their job for four quarters, Wingard was the difference when he went into the middle after halftime.

In the third quarter alone he had nine disposals, four clearances and set up two goals, and his chase down tackle on Sam Mitchell in the middle seemed to lift his side.

Paddy Ryder was again supreme in the ruck by winning textbook hit-outs and even blind-turning to get out of traffic, and Justin Westhoff also did his bit at both ends of the ground.

The only concern to come out of the game was an injury scare to Sam Powell-Pepper, who left the ground clutching his right shoulder after laying a heavy tackle in the second quarter. But he returned with it strapped to play out the game.

Not only did he make it back but he won some big contested ball, including putting his head over the footy to be crunched into the turf and win a free kick for in the back.

Hamish Hartlett played a really solid game across halfback and kicked a 60m bomb, while Dan Houston’s ball use was again supreme even in the face of huge pressure, particularly in the second quarter.

Joe Atley’s debut was mixed. His first touch was a gritty handball in tight then he immediately laid a shepherd, but he also had a few nervous moments with a fumble and miskick but will adapt to the pace of the game the more he plays.

Despite its indifferent form against top-eight opposition, beating West Coast in Perth and Sydney in Sydney will certainly give the Power the belief it can win a final if it gets there.

CHRIS McDERMOTT’S FAST FIVE

Justin Westhoff celebrates a goal with Paddy Ryder. Bone says Westhoff could be Port’s X-factor in finals. Picture: Paul Kane (Getty Images)

1. Bad kicking again by the Power! Yes again. The first quarter especially. They had so much ball and so much momentum but they couldn’t execute by foot and the Eagles took seven intercept marks from poor, rushed kicks. How costly. The Eagles took advantage, kicked the next four goals and it was game back on when it should have been game over.

2. I am a huge Travis Boak fan. I make no apology for it. When he is at his best the Power are a different team. He was close to his best against the Eagles and the team just looked and played better. He has found his mojo and there is no better sight for Power fans.

3. Pace is a must. The Power is at its best when it has pace to burn. Jarman Impey, Matty White and Jared Polec didn’t have huge games but their speed at times was exceptional. It makes the opposition worry and allows other players to do their thing.

4. Justin Westhoff may just be the X-factor for the Power in this year’s finals. He helped turn the game when moved forward against the West Coast and he can cause some havoc if and when needed. It is a weapon Hinkley will not want to overexpose but it’s a handy one to have up your sleeve.

5. The Power’s kicking was horrid early but it was exceptional late. It turned that horror start to an 80 per cent disposal efficiency by foot in the last term and the 24-point deficit ir had faced earlier in the night became a 32-point victory. It is the one area that will dictate how far the Power goes this year. Get it right and a grand final appearance is not out of the question.

SCOREBOARD

PORT ADELAIDE 4.0 6.2 10.8 18.12 (120)

WEST COAST 4.4 7.7 10.8 13.10 (88)

BEST — Port Adelaide: Dixon, Ebert, Wines, Wingard, Ryder, Hartlett, Boak, R. Gray. West Coast: Duggan, Priddis, Yeo, Gaff, Darling.

GOALS — Port Adelaide: Dixon 5, R. Gray 3, Westhoff, Ryder, Trengove 2, Wines, Wingard, Boak, Hartlett. West Coast: Darling, LeCras 4, Jetta 2, Petrie, Cripps.

UMPIRES — J. Dalgleish, D. Harris, T. Pannell.

CROWD — 36,766 at Subiaco Oval.

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