The Moment: Willie Rioli, Jase Burgoyne and Nick Watson deliver on the big stage in classic final

With backs to the wall, coming off four consecutive finals losses, Port Adelaide needed new September heroes. Enter two names synonymous with the big stage. Watch the video.

Certain players are made for the big stage.

Rioli and Burgoynes are synonymous with it.

Nick Watson already looks like he is, just 18 games into his career.

The trio provided a heap of the most pivotal moments in a thrilling semi-final at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

With Port Adelaide’s backs to the wall entering the knockout match, coming off four consecutive finals losses, including an 84-point hiding last week, the Power needed heroes.

A duo from two of football’s most famous Indigenous families stood tall.

Willie Rioli and Jase Burgoyne were among the best players on the ground – at opposite ends.

Rioli is the Power’s only premiership player – at West Coast in 2018 – and his big-game experience shows.

Rioli’s big-game prowess shone through. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

He seems to have eyes in the back of his head and more time than almost everyone else.

Rioli set up the second goal of the game – and second to Port – with a piercing inboard kick from the southwestern pocket to a leading Todd Marshall, who kicked truly.

The next Rioli goal assist would have made Magic Johnson or Jason Kidd proud.

It was a no-look handball to Darcy Byrne-Jones at the northern end during the second quarter that the All-Australian defender turned gritty forward – who returned to attack from defence on Friday night – slotted from 45m.

Rioli was not done.

His instinctive, volleyed goal about a second before the half-time siren stretched Port’s lead to nine points.

He slipped out the back of the Hawks’ defence and kicked another, courtesy of a beautifully weighted 45m pass from Jason Horne-Francis.

Then, after Watson levelled the scores with the first major of the last term, Rioli put a ball on a platter for Mitch Georgiades to boot his second of three goals,

“His vision is sublime,” James Brayshaw said on Channel 7.

Richmond great Matthew Richardson added: “His decision-making is first class.”

Burgoyne was a somewhat unlikely tone-setter in the first term, recording the equal-most touches on the ground with eight, playing in his previous role at half-back.

But finals stardom is in his genes.

Jase Burgoyne produced the finest game of his young career. Picture: Michael Klein

Burgoyne’s dad Peter was one of the best players in the Power’s 2004 premiership and his uncle Shaun was part of that flag, as well as three with Hawthorn.

Wearing Peter’s No.7 guernsey, the present-day Burgoyne finished as the highest possession winner on the ground for his side with 25.

He had some huge passages late – a goal around the body to put his side 12 points ahead; an important spoil; then a clean ground-ball collect in the middle of the ground to thwart a Hawks surge.

Given the stakes, it was undoubtedly the best performance of Burgoyne’s career.

He made his name on a wing, but might have found a new home at half-back – a spot his dad starred from in 2007, the year the Power last made a grand final.

Port is now one win away from getting there again.

As for Watson, he will go down as one of the great stories of this entertaining Hawks run.

“The Wizard” delivered in his first two AFL finals, kicking a total of seven goals.

He is only 19 but has the class of a small forward far beyond his years.

The footbridge across the River Torrens to Adelaide Oval is where Power fans march in huge numbers from the city to and from games.

On Friday night, young Hawks fans were selling wizard hats near the bridge, close to the Adelaide train station.

After four goals last week, Watson kicked three.

Watson was the spark of a manic Hawks run. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

His first major came after a controversial call when the ball looked out of bounds in the northwestern pocket, before earning a free then snapping through the middle.

His first of the final term came after crumbing beautifully, then tucking his ball under his arm and finishing.

That goal looked like it might send the Hawks on their way to a preliminary final.

Watson only enhanced his credentials with his performance.

He is a prime-time player in a prime-time team primed for more big finals these next few years.

Like Hawthorn and Hokball, you expect to see him and them on this stage again and again.

As for Rioli and Burgoyne, they helped steel Port Adelaide to one of its most important AFL wins.

They and their club are now one win away from a grand final, the time of year both their families have shone in the past.

Originally published as The Moment: Willie Rioli, Jase Burgoyne and Nick Watson deliver on the big stage in classic final