Round 9
	V
Port Adelaide 14.7 (91)		Collingwood 12.14 (86)

Port Adelaide has edged out fellow premiership contender Collingwood by five points in a thrilling encounter at Football Park. Anthony Rocca had the chance to be a hero for the Pies with a set shot from 40 out in the final minute, but as the final siren sounded it was Port 14.7 (91) victorious over Collingwod 12.14 (86).Port played in its all-teal training strip and the fluid ball-movement from the Power in the opening term did, at times, resemble a training drill. The Pies appeared shell-shocked as Matthew Primus took control in the centre square allowing his on-ballers first use of the football.

When Collingwood were able to mount an attack it was swiftly broken up by the Power defence, as Chris Tarrant and Anthony Rocca struggled to have an impact early in the forward 50. When Adam Kingsley goaled as the siren sounded for quarter-time, Port had established a 29-point lead and looked to be in control of proceedings.Collingwood's cause suffered a major setback halfway through the second quarter when Josh Fraser staggered from the ground clutching his ribs after a ruck clash and was soon followed by Shane Wakelin who appeared to have suffered a thigh injury.However, their loss seemed to act as a catalyst for the beleaguered Maggies who lifted their intensity and outscored the Power during the term to narrow the deficit to 22 points at half-time.

Tempers frayed as the teams headed for the change rooms at half-time with all players becoming involved in a shoving match that may see a few of them lighter in the hip pocket mid-week. With Tarrant and Rocca unable to impose themselves on the match, Collingwood needed to find another avenue to goal and Leon Davis obliged in spectacular fashion - booting three third quarter goals to reduce the margin to a mere three points at the last break. When Rocca marked and goaled in the second minute of the final term, Collingwood hit the lead for the first time in the match and looked to have the momentum to finish the job.

Enter Stuart Dew, who stepped up and slotted home three goals for the term to wrest back the lead. The Power looked to be home three minutes from time but late goals to Scott Burns and Steven McKee pulled the margin back to one straight kick, with a quick centre-break allowing Rocca the chance to level the scores. Much to the home crowd's great delight he tugged the kick to the left and the Power were home.

After the match Power coach Mark Williams underlined the importance of the win to the development of his side. "I thought it was a great result for our players, their psyche and the psyche of the club," he said. "To be headed in the last quarter and then to be able to take it back as we did, I thought, was terrific." Williams reserved special praise for the performance run-with player Josh Carr. "It would be remiss of me not to talk about Josh Carr's effort on the champion footballer of the AFL. I thought that he clearly beat Nathan Buckley and I thought that he was outstanding with his work ethic around the ground ... it was a great effort by Josh and he went a long way to making sure that we won the game."

An obviously disappointed Mick Malthouse lamented some costly lapses in discipline but praised the character of his side after they managed to claw their way back into the game after quarter-time. "We've got a wonderful group of players that will never give in," he said. "I'll say right now that the character of our side is one that they don't really know how to lay down and that's a terrific trait to have."

Malthouse refused to blame Rocca for missing his final shot on goal. "He won't sleep for a month and nor will I … but I don't think Anthony kicked 14 points - he just missed one at the vital end of the game." "He's got every right to feel terrible about that because you (should) kick those goals, but so should Glen Freeborn, who is a goal-kicker and perhaps a couple of others that certainly should have been put away."

Highlight:
1) Jared Poulton's run in from across the ground, evade 2 players and kick goalwards.
2) Sav Rocca missing for goal.

Lowlight:
1) Nathan Buckley - nutcase - trying to decapitate Bishop.

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