The results are in, and we’ll be counting down the top ten in the lead up to the historic, final AFL home-and-away game at the ground when Port Adelaide hosts Carlton on August 31.
Today, we give you those games which didn’t quite make it to the top ten.
The voting was close throughout, with over 1500 participants having their say in less than a week!
What a history it has been for the club at West Lakes.
So here they are.
20. 2001 AFL Round 17 – Port Adelaide 15.14 (104) def Essendon 14.13 (97)
At number 20 is this cracker from 2001. Up against the reigning premiers, Port Adelaide continued its quick rise to AFL powerhouse status with a thrilling seven-point win over the Bombers. Gavin Wanganeen went head-to-head with Essendon captain James Hird with Brent Guerra keeping the Power in the running with four goals. It all came down to big centre half-forward Warren Tredrea though, who kicked the winner to seal the win for Port Adelaide.
19. 2000 AFL Round 21 – Port Adelaide 12.16 (88) def Carlton 12.11 (83)
In a surprise low-ranking finish, Port Adelaide’s famous after-the-siren win over the Blues in 2000 came in at number 19. After a horror season where the Power bottomed out, it came down to a Peter Burgoyne thriller after the final bell. The eventual premiership player calmly slotted a beautiful punt to send Footy Park into a frenzied celebration and seal the Power’s victory.
18. 1980 SANFL Grand Final – Port Adelaide 11.15 (81) def Norwood 9.9 (63)
The lowest-ranked of the club’s many SANFL premierships in our survey, the 1980 flag was nevertheless a popular one for Port Adelaide. In front of 54,870 at Football Park, the Magpies capped a dominant season with a famous come-from-behind win over traditional rivals Norwood. Even with the loss of gun forward Tim Evans to a broken thumb at half-time, the traditional Port resolve shone through in the final term with the Magpies kicking five goals to the Redlegs’ two.
17. 2002 AFL Semi Final – Port Adelaide 11.17 (83) def Essendon 9.11 (59)
Famous for the pre-game brawl where the likes of Matthew Bishop and James Hird went toe-to-toe, Port Adelaide’s inaugural AFL finals victory comes in at number 17. It was a bitter stoush between the high-flying Bombers and a quickly rising Port Adelaide. While it was played on Friday 13 September, there was no horror story for the faithful that night when the Power overcame an early deficit to run out comfortable winners under lights.
16. 2009 AFL Round 8 – Port Adelaide 14.18 (102) def Richmond 15.9 (99)
In what would be the first of many wet, May matches at AAMI Stadium between the two sides, Port Adelaide hosted the Tigers in a tight battle on a sloppy deck. Warren Tredrea kicked seven goals to lead the Power to a last-gasp win over Richmond that day in one of the club’s modern day classics at West Lakes.
15. 2002 AFL Round 9 – Port Adelaide 14.7 (91) def Collingwood 12.14 (86)
Port supporters love this game. Against the club that today loves to emphasise its ‘us against them’ mantra, Port Adelaide supporters would have felt a similar sentiment when their team was forced to wear teal training jumpers at a home game against league giants Collingwood. It was the Alberton faithful who had the last laugh though, when Collingwood’s Anthony Rocca had a chance to draw the game just before the siren, only to miss with seconds remaining on the clock. A famous win for a fighting Power!
14. 2006 AFL Round 21 – Port Adelaide 14.11 (95) def Adelaide Crows 11.15 (81)
At number 14 is this typical underdog victory. Port Adelaide had a poor year and their local rivals were up and about. With the Crows tipped to play in that year’s Grand Final, it was the Power who dented their momentum with a rallying 14-point win. Brett Ebert was pivotal up forward with three goals while Chad Cornes dominated with proceedings to win the Showdown Medal.
13. 1989 SANFL Grand Final – Port Adelaide 15.16 (106) def North Adelaide 1.8 (14)
They game with one goal in mind. So would North Adelaide be taunted for years after Port’s resounding 1989 Grand Final win. The Magpies stormed out of the blocks to humiliate the Roosters at Football Park in the final win of the 80s. Scott Hodges and Darren Smith kicked four goals each, while Andrew Obst, Greg Phillips and Roger Delaney contributed through the middle and in defence. An absolute classic!
12. 1999 SANFL Grand Final – Port Adelaide 14.17 (101) def Norwood 14.9 (93)
Coming in at twelfth is the club’s last SANFL premiership. After dominating the competition for a decade, Port closed the century with a hard-fought win over its oldest rival. It was Phil McGuinness who launched a 60-metre torpedo on the run to seal the deal for the Magpies and deliver its 36th SANFL pennant.
11. 1996 SANFL Preliminary Final – Port Adelaide 9.12 (66) def Norwood 9.8 (62)
If Scott Hodges wasn’t a football immortal before this game, he certainly was after it. Rounding out our bottom ten was this crucial win in 1996. With Norwood leading late in the match, Hodges won a free kick with just seconds on the clock remaining and proceeded to slot the winner for the Magpies (and stick the dagger through the hearts of the Redlegs supporters at the ground!). What a win!
Tomorrow: We start our top ten countdown with Number 10 ahead of our coverage of the Power and Fremantle clash at Patersons Stadium from 7:10pm (ACST).
