Robbie Gray celebrates one of his goals.
Photo: AAP
Port Adelaide beat Adelaide by five points in a sensational Showdown 44 with a goal from Steven Motlop with 21 seconds remaining.
When Taylor Walker and Mitch McGovern both goaled from more than 50 metres for the Crows to lead by a point with 43 seconds remaining, they looked like they were home.
But while Motlop will be remembered as the hero of Showdown 44, it was really a remarkable five-goal third term by Robbie Gray that enabled Port to achieve this victory. They were down 27 points moments before half-time when he went on a brilliant goal spree, kicking six of Port's next seven.
With his old one-two partner in ruckman Paddy Ryder, the duo were inspirational when all seemed lost after an insipid opening half.
Motlop was great from 40 metres on the run to win the game, but the killer blow for Adelaide was when Ryder tapped the ball over his left shoulder to Gray who ran around the pack and goaled, just like they did to floor St Kilda in the dying seconds in round 19 last year.
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The Crows should have known better. They should have put the game beyond Port's reach when they controlled the first half. Full credit to the Power to having the courage and determination to turn their dreadful first half around, and much of this came from the coach's box.
Ken Hinkley changed the whole trend of the game by playing through the corridor rather than their awful, stop-start-sideways routine earlier. Gray stayed deep in the forward lines, meaning his opponent McGovern was made more accountable, and didn't have the impact from half-back line that he enjoyed earlier. Simple really, but it also brought in key players, especially an equally inspiring captain Travis Boak, and Tom Rockliff, who had been relatively been contained. Jack Watts was also a different player second half; the recently trouble Sam Powell-Pepper repeatedly niggled Adelaide's key ball-getter Matt Crouch and gone was much of their drive.
Gray ultimately deservingly won his third Showdown Medal, but most likely this gripping win, their tale of heroics, will prove much more. A loss could have seen them slide on the ladder, and now Motlop's crucial goal may have rescued their season.
The intensity in this game, the ferocious tackles and sensational marks – none better than one from Ryder – was also a reminder that this modern game can also be great.
Adelaide had a host of honest performers like Rory Laird and Rory Atkins, plus a spattering of brilliance from players like Eddie Betts and Walker, but ultimately they lost the game when they went into a shell and had no answer to controlling Ryder and Gray.
The Crows looked very good, particularly in the first half, with their attack on the ball and direct play. However, when the real pressure was applied, some of their younger players appeared to lack experience at crucial moments.
When the game lifted five notches in the second half everything was about decisive passes; both sides paid dearly for kicking and hoping. It was great football, and the occasion brought out the best in both.
The win levels the ledger between these bitter rivals.
PORT ADELAIDE 1.3 4.6 11.11 14.11 (95)
ADELAIDE 4.2 8.3 10.5 14.6 (90)
Goals: Port Adelaide: R Gray 6 C Wingard 2 P Ryder 2 S Gray S Motlop S Powell- Pepper T Boak. Adelaide: E Betts 3 C Ellis-Yolmen 2 M McGovern 2 T Walker 2 J Jenkins P Seedsman R Atkins R Douglas T Lynch.
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Simon Meredith, Leigh Haussen
Official Crowd: 50,967 at Adelaide Oval
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