Two moments will ‘haunt’ Hamish Hartlett as Power players left broken

Broken Port Adelaide players let the tears pour out after a nail-biting loss to Richmond as one star was singled out for two critical errors.

Hamish Hartlett looked broken after the loss. Picture: Sarah Reed

Richmond is through to a third grand final in four years after eliminating Port Adelaide in a nail-biting finish at Adelaide Oval.

It is the first time the Tigers have made consecutive grand finals in 46 years as they broke the Power’s heart with two fourth quarter goals to Kane Lambert.

In one of the tightest preliminary finals in recent memory there was just two points separating the two teams heading into the fourth quarter.

It was all tied up at half time and Port Adelaide led at quarter-time by just two points.

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When the dust settled after a wild fourth quarter battle the Tigers had secured a spot in the grand final with a 6.10 (46) to (6.4) 40 win.

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Power players, including Stephen Motlop, Brad Ebert and Hamish Hartlett, were spotted in tears at full time.

The Tigers were ecstatic at full time. They now await the winner of Saturday’s second preliminary final between Brisbane and Geelong.

Brad Ebert has an uncertain future.

Veteran Ebert led his team off the ground after he appeared to suffer a concussion during a marking contest in the fourth quarter.

It was his final act as an AFL player after coach Ken Hinkley revealed the ex-Eagle would retire.

Hartlett’s emotion was clear at full time when he crumpled to the ground and buried his head in the turf.

The defender had been pinged for deliberately thumping the ball out of bounds — a free kick that allowed Lambert to put the Tigers up by 10 points with 10 minutes to play.

Tom Lynch got to celebrate in the end.

Hartlett had another shocking moment a few minutes later when his inside fifty entry on the back of a 50m penalty that went against Daniel Rioli sailed straight to a group of three Richmond defenders without a Port forward anywhere to be seen.

“Hartlett has been so good all year and been good tonight, but he’s had a couple of minutes here that are going to haunt him,” Channel 7’s Bruce McAvaney said.

Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall told Fox Footy at full time the Power were guilty of being panicked at times when the game was on the line.

“Port made some bad decisions. And they just couldn’t get through it,” he said.

Port Adelaide players were heartbroken.

“They just didn’t handle some of the moments the way they should have. There were signs of panic at times.”

Nick Riewoldt replied: “To say they were panicked would be too harsh, but they would be disappointed”.

Peter Ladhams, who was earlier placed on report for a low blow punch, set-up a grandstand finish when his goal brought Port Adelaide back to within a straight kick with seven minutes left.

But the Tigers showed their class and held on for a tough win.

Earlier, the Tigers jumped out to a two goal lead in a heated first quarter.

Robbie Gray was everyone at Port Adelaide.

Tempers threatened to boil over in the frenetic first half, with Tigers star Tom Lynch often in the middle of it.

Power young gun Xavier Duursma gave Lynch an extended spray in the second term when he slotted a set-shot and then turned to Lynch to let him know about it.

Duursma let Tom Lynch know all about his goal 😤#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/kEmoRt1ktP

— AFL (@AFL) October 16, 2020

When Lynch responded Port Adelaide players came from everywhere to bump the star forward.

Ladhams was reported for a low blow strike on Richmond’s Noah Balta in the first quarter.

Ladhams appeared to punch Balta with a swinging arm as he chased the ball behind play.

The close-fist strike appeared to catch Balta low down in the bread basket and left him bent over, sucking in deep breaths for a few seconds.

At half time Fox Footy commentator Nick Riewoldt said it was “very, very stupid”.

Peter Ladhams was reported for this hit on Noah Balta.