PORT ADELAIDE’s SANFL season is still alive after a stunning 13-point victory over South Adelaide at Alberton Oval.

Jake Weidemann proved the hero with three successive last quarter goals to help Matthew Lokan’s side come from behind to steal a gutsy 15.7 (97) to 13.6 (84) win.

Port welcomed back favourite son John Butcher for his first game in the colours in more than five years, and he didn’t let the fans down, finishing with a major and some important contributions.

The Magpies burst out of the blocks with style as Dylan Williams marked and converted the first of the afternoon within seconds.

South responded moments later as Ben Heaslip intercepted a Boyd Woodcock kick to run and goal.

However, it was all about Port Adelaide in the opening term as it dominated across the ground to set up a 25-point advantage at the first change.

Sam Powell-Pepper crumbed and snapped home before Jed McEntee ran into forward 50 and slammed home the Magpies’ third.

Williams then marked and again converted before Woodcock made up for the earlier kick to finish off a neat move.

It went the other way in the second term, as the Panthers broke out early through Eamon Wilkinson.

The two sides then wrestled in the midfield for the next 10 minutes before South made it back-to-back through Liam Fitt.

Joel Garner took a neat mark to break the Panthers’ run, but the visitors continued to run rampant.

Fraser Turner, Joel Cross and Wilkinson all found the big sticks late in the second stanza to cut Port’s lead to just two points at the main break.

Despite Cam Sutcliffe’s early set shot, it looked as if South would run over the top of Port, as Fitt slotted his third and Cross put his side in front.

That spurred the Magpies into gear, as the returning Butcher marked and converted.

Goals followed from Dylan Aldridge and McEntee, who was having a terrific day, and finally Williams who nailed his third with a snap which sent the Magpies faithful into raptures.

South missed two late chances and Port went into the final term with a three-goal lead.

The nerves grew at Alberton as Sam Overall kicked the Panthers’ first of the last quarter within seconds.

Weidemann missed a snap over his body, and Matthew Broadbent made the Magpies pay at the other end to make it a seven-point game.

Wilkinson then added his third for the Panthers before Damon Freitag put them in front at the 10-minute mark.

Weidemann then made things interesting as he took a strong mark at the top of the square and converted to level the scores just before time on.

South then broke through on the wing and Fitt capitalised as a result of the inside 50 to kick his fourth and give his side back the lead.

A rushed behind ensured it was a five-point game and it turned into a blessing for the Magpies, as Sutcliffe found Weidemann inside 50 and he goaled to give them a one-point lead.

He then slotted his third after he booted the ball to the top of the square looking to Garner, who missed it and it bounced through.

Ollie Lord then brought out the party tricks, selling some candy and checksiding home his first of the afternoon to make it a 13-point lead deep in the last.

Woodcock had a day out, finishing with 41 touches, 13 marks, eight inside 50s, seven clearances and a goal, while Sutcliffe had 23 and a goal.

SCOREBOARD

Port Adelaide                   5.2         6.4         11.5       15.7       (97)

South Adelaide                1.1         6.2         8.5         13.6       (84)

Port Adelaide

Goals: Weidemann, Williams 3, McEntee 2, Aldridge, Butcher, Garner, Lord, Powell-Pepper, Sutcliffe, Woodcock.

Best: Woodcock, Weidemann, Sutcliffe, Clurey, McEntee, Powell-Pepper