A FIERY CONTEST at Metricon Stadium has seen the Power run out 37-point winners.

Hamish Hartlett was the Power's best when it mattered early in the game, while Sam Gray finished with a career-high 37 touches in the wet. 

One of the primary talking points of the night was undoubtedly Karl Amon's three-goal performance which got the Power going at crucial moments.

It wasn't one-way traffic for the visitors, but certainly the Power had the best of the play on the night, finishing with superiority in attack of some 26 more inside-50 entries.

With conditions practically unplayable for skills, the smarter team was always going to win the match, and Port read the play better across four quarters while also bringing a consistent and intense attack on the ball. 

The Power returns home unable to make the finals, but with one last task at hand - capping its run of three straight August wins with a victory over premiership favourites Fremantle at the start of September.

That game will be played at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday 5 September at 3:20pm.

MATCH REVIEW

FIRST QUARTER

In steady rain not dissimilar to the tropical conditions that greeted the Power at the same time and place last year, Port flexed its muscle early controlling the early clearances to give opportunities inside the Power's attacking 50.

Things were looking rosy when a smart kick from Monfries squared up Matt White with the first set shot of the match, but the ball sliding off his boot for a behind was a bellwether for the way kicks would fare for the night.

The smattering of Power fans at the ground need not have waited long for first blood however - it took just minutes - Chad Wingard getting on the end of a handball chain to curl through the game's opening major.







He was joined by ruckman Paddy Ryder who ran up the Power's second with a quick-fire bouncer off the boot.

While the Power had considerable control with the ball in hand and around stoppages, it wasn't able to capitalise on its advantage, with Charlie Dixon and later Tom Lynch able to convert majors for the Suns. 

The conditions conspired against both sides, but the Power should have led by more than the narrow four-point advantage it had at quarter time, with both Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard missing gettable shots.

 

SECOND QUARTER

 

Having failed in its efforts to convert in the first quarter, the Power needed to find a method to beat the Suns, and the greasy conditions. 

With both sides chasing in packs to win possession, an unspectacular affair required a combination of clean possession and open space. The Suns were the first to do that with a fast move from the opening bounce delivering a high ball to key forward Charlie Dixon. 

With direct opponent Cam O'Shea under pressure, Dixon was able to draw a holding free and convert the set shot to put the Suns in front for the first time. 

The Power continued to press forward but couldn't find a pair of hands to mark the ball in attack. 

It took for 2015 debutant Karl Amon to slot the Power's first and take the scoreboard advantage back. 

As quickly as Port's first goal had come, the Suns were able to take the lead back as Sam Day seized advantage of a missed soccer from Matthew Broadbent. 

It was unfortunate for Broadbent, who worked hard to effect a spoil as the Suns charged forward, but it was cold comfort for the Power as they fell behind for the second time on Saturday night.

Port wasn't done with though, instead patiently forcing the ball forward with classic wet-weather football to slot the final three goals of the term.

The first came through Brendon Ah Chee, but only after Robbie Gray smartly chipped the ball over the top to him.

Then the spark turned into a flame with Karl Amon's second - another curling beauty from the stands.

The third came through the smart hands of both Robbie and Sam Gray, and John Butcher, to give Matt White a clear shot on goal for his first.

With Port Adelaide looking as dangerous as it had all night, the icing on the cake (at least for fans treated to an unpolished rain-affected footy match) was an all-in brawl on the half time siren.

Once the Power took issue with Matera's heated high tackle on Angus Monfries, it was on for young and old.

The Match Review Panel will have some footage to familiarise themselves with later this weekend.

 

THIRD QUARTER

Once again, the Suns started well and once again it was the Suns' usual suspects. 

Brandon Matera and Charlie Dixon - the latter with a freak snap on a tight angle - got the Suns within a goal in the first 10 minutes.

Then it was four-goal flurry with Justin Westhoff and Karl Amon (again with a classy snap around the body) kicking off proceedings. 

A fortuitous free kick against Steven May for umpire abuse gifted Chad Wingard his second for the evening, before Westhoff got on the end of another. 

 

FOURTH QUARTER

Gold Coast had all the ball and opportunity in the fourth quarter, but simply couldn't convert its several shots on goal. 

It was Matera who broke the drought with his second of the match to chop Port Adelaide's advantage back to 22 points. 

Both sides scrapped for possession for the remainder of the term with through thrills but plenty of spills as the ball swung between both 50-metre arcs.

Brad Ebert broke the Power's goal drought after 22 minutes of play with a clever running soccer to put the match beyond doubt.

SCOREBOARD

PORT ADELAIDE                2.6         6.9         10.11      12.16     (88)
GOLD COAST                      2.2          4.3         6.5         7.9         (51)

PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU’S BEST
Hartlett, S. Gray, Broadbent, Amon, Krakouer, Ebert

GOALS
Amon 3, White, Westhoff, Wingard 2, Ryder, Ah Chee, Ebert

SUBSTITUTION
Aaron Young replaced Angus Monfries at three-quarter time.

CROWD
9,343 at Metricon Stadium