Round 20
	V
Port Adelaide 17.10 (112)		Melbourne 15.8 (98)

Port Adelaide has sealed its second minor premiership in as many years with a 17.10 (112) to 15.8 (98) win over Melbourne at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night.

Despite the narrow margin the Power looked to have the game in hand for most of the evening and did just enough to keep the dogged Dees at bay. Gavin Wanganeen further enhanced his Brownlow medal chances with another best afield performance in the Power’s 14-point win.

Peter Burgoyne also put in a polished display in his first game back after serving a three-match suspension – finishing the game with 24 disposals – while Nathan Brown was the standout for the Demons with 30 possessions.

The Dees got the start they were after when Russell Robertson marked and goaled three minutes in but their lead was to be short-lived as the Power quickly hit back with goals to Josh Carr and Byron Pickett.

An eight-minute scoreless period was broken when Warren Tredrea converted from point-blank range after Brad Millar was penalised 50 metres for a late tackle. David Neitz pulled one back for the Dees with his first for the night soon after but Port answered with three goals – including Tredrea’s second and third – to set up a 26-point lead at the first break.

James McDonald sparked a Melbourne revival in the second quarter with 12 possessions and three marks for the term. The margin was quickly reduced to 11 points with Robertson and Neitz both bagging their second majors of the night after Brad Green had goaled at the five-minute mark of the quarter.

Chad Cornes stopped the Demons’ run with his first goal 14 minutes into the term and Shaun Burgoyne extended the Power lead soon after. Simon Godfrey hit back for Melbourne before Stephen Paxman drifted down from full-back to snag a rare goal to put the Power 22 points up at half-time.

A bad turnover by the Demons’ in their defensive 50 led to Roger James’ second goal early in the third term and Byron Pickett put the Power 36 points up with his second soon after.

However, Melbourne once again came right back at Port with Neitz adding his third and fourth major to help pull the margin back to 24 points at the last break.

When Stuart Dew kicked his second goal midway through the last quarter the Power were 28 points up and coasting to a win but the Dees continue to battle hard. Robertson added his third and fourth goals while Neitz – a strong focal point all night – booted his fifth after the siren to put an end to a lacklustre final term from the Power.

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