Dynamic duo Paddy Ryder and Robbie Gray produce more heroics to lift Port Adelaide to vital win

TWO weeks after the dynamic duo’s last-gasp heroics won the game against St Kilda, Paddy Ryder and Robbie Gray have struck again, this time downing the Pies.

Charlie Dixon celebrates a goal against Collingwood. Picture: Sarah Reed

STARS Paddy Ryder and Robbie Gray have all but ensured Port Adelaide will play finals for the first time in three years.

Two weeks after the dynamic duo’s last-gasp heroics won the game against St Kilda, the pair’s class — and a touch of trademark magic — stood out at Adelaide Oval as the Power held off a gallant Collingwood to reach the pivotal 12-win mark.

Port, which led by 34 points late in the third quarter before conceding four consecutive goals and having to dig deep to win by 27 points, needs to win just one of its final two minor round games against Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast to feature in September for the first time since 2014.

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The Power’s victory wasn’t pretty but it got the job done.

And while ruckman Ryder and small forward-midfielder Gray weren’t at their brilliant best, it was a handful of crucial plays from the pair that gave Port the advantage in a game it just had to win to play finals and keep its top-four hopes alive.

Paddy Ryder celebrates a goal against Collingwood. Picture: Sarah Reed

Ryder, who had his colours lowered by Showdown Medallist Sam Jacobs in last week’s record 84-point loss to Adelaide, took advantage of the absence of suspended Magpie Brodie Grundy to dominate the ruck with 31 hit-outs, five clearances and a goal.

Gray, whose set-shot kicking for goal remains a concern, turned the match the Power’s way with a handful of brilliant plays which resulted in two goals and a game-high three score assists.

One of his plays that resulted in a vital goal to Sam Gray in the final term where he somehow grabbed the ball in one hand, put it behind his back and then took it in his other hand before delivering it to his namesake had to be seen to be believed and clearly came from his basketball back of tricks.

Robbie Gray you absolute freak! #AFLPowerPies pic.twitter.com/s8UmepyYsC

— AFL (@AFL) August 13, 2017

Comeback kid Dougal Howard, playing his first AFL game in 14 months, put the icing on Port’s cake with the sealing goal in the final minutes.

The Power wasn’t at its free-flowing best but it did enough to win against a Magpies side that simply refused to believe it was beaten, despite several times looking down and out.

Apart from Ryder and Robbie Gray, key forward Charlie Dixon (17 disposals, six marks), midfielder Chad Wingard (32 disposals), half-back Jasper Pittard (26), midfielder Ollie Wines (29) and captain Travis Boak (23 and two goals) were other strong contributors for Port.

Collingwood, which lost for the first time in five weeks, was best served by midfielders Taylor Adams and Steele Sidebottom and key forward Ben Reid (four goals).

Port produced a surprise at the start, with Howard starting in defence on Collingwood danger man Darcy Moore.

Playing his first AFL game since undergoing a knee reconstruction in June last year, Howard had spent most of his career as a key forward/ruckman but had impressed in SANFL cameos in the backline this year and didn’t look out of place.

Dougal Howard celebrates a goal with Charlie Dixon. Picture: Sarah Reed

Port, which booted just 1.3 in the first half against the Crows, started strongly to post the first three scores and kicked the first major when Ryder flew high over a pack to mark close to goal.

The Magpies took time to adjust to the Power’s fast-paced tempo but when they did they owned possession.

The AFL’s leading disposal team had a whopping 41 marks in the opening quarter and its patience with the ball paid off when Alex Fasolo beat the Port defensive zone to find Jamie Elliott unattended for a walk-in goal.

Amazingly, the Power had a season-low two tackles for the term and over-possessed by hand, having 62 handballs to 50 kicks.

Wines was the biggest offender with 10 of his 11 possessions being handpasses.

Port dramatically raised its tackling tempo in the second quarter and reaped the rewards.

It nailed five strong tackles in the opening two minutes of the term and its greater intent and pressure forced turnovers.

It paid off on the scoreboard when defender Dan Houston kicked his first career goal in his 14th game with a superb 50m kick following a 50m penalty.

When Wines ran into an open goal a minute later following a superb handpass from Boak, the home side had seized the initiative.

Collingwood players leave the ground following another loss. Picture: Getty Images

With Jake Neade having an impact inside 50 with his speed and tackling pressure, the Power pushed its lead out to 28 points late in the quarter and a game-high 34 midway through the third.

But Collingwood refused to give in, kicking four consecutive goals, including two from Reid, to draw to within eight points late in the third quarter.

PORT 2.4 7.8 10.11 14.14 (98)

COLLINGWOOD 1.3 4.4 8.8 10.11 (71)

BEST — Port: Wines, Ryder, Wingard, R. Gray, Dixon, Boak, Pittard.

Collingwood: Adams, Reid, Sidebottom, Langdon, Treloar, Crisp.

GOALS — Port: R. Gray, S. Gray, Boak 2, Ryder, Neade, Dixon, Wines, Houston, Ah Chee, Impey, Howard.

Collingwood: Reid 4, Elliott, Blair, Phillips, Moore, Sidebottom, Hoskin-Elliott.

INJURIES — Collingwood: Hoskin-Elliott (thigh).

UMPIRES — L. Fisher, B. Rosebury, C. Deboy.

CROWD — 37,533 at Adelaide Oval.

Originally published as Dynamic duo Paddy Ryder and Robbie Gray produce more heroics to lift Port Adelaide to vital win