PORT Adelaide has finished its season on a high by defeating Adelaide by three points in the final round of the SANFL home and away season.

It was a topsy-turvy contest from the get go, and the Magpies learned from last week’s late loss to South Adelaide to take control in the final term.

The Magpies looked harder and faster from the opening minute, and it was epitomised by Sam Mayes who weaved through the Crows midfield to find Nick Moore on his own.

The tackling machine ignored Trent McKenzie’s call for a handball and converted the first of the game to put the Magpies on their way for the opening term.

Adelaide then put the pressure back on, and following a Fischer McAsey miss, Luke Pedlar would convert from a 40-metre set shot.

Josh Smithson would give the Crows a seven-point buffer, but inaccuracy was plaguing them.

It was no issue for Port, as Brynn Teakle took a hanger just outside of the goal square and converted.

Jay Boyle and Isaya McKenzie both missed chances for the Crows and Port took full advantage.

Dante Visentini took a massive pack mark over former Port player Billy Frampton and also put it home.

It was a great quarter for the big men as Teakle slotted his second following another terrific mark and his side led by eight points at the first change.

McKenzie was the general in defence and had 12 touches in the first term, yet his work was about to get cut out for him early in the second.

Lachlan Gollant would kick the Crows’ first and they’d hold possession in their forward 50 for the next 10 minutes with little reward.

Elliot Himmelberg missed three opportunities, while Matt Wright also sprayed another.

Yet, Kieran Strachan received a free kick and ended Adelaide’s drought to give his side an eight-point lead.

However, Port quickly switched back into gear.

Nathan Barkla received a free kick outside 50 and with a Jay Schulz-style run-in put his first goal in SANFL football through.

Teakle then continued his form from the first quarter with a massive pack mark for his third to give Port the lead back.

The Magpies could have had a greater differential but missed chances through Taj Schofield and Visentini late.

Port maintained a six-point lead at half-time, but neither side was able to gain the ascendancy for momentum.

The Crows would hit hard to start the third term through Pedlar’s second, and Gollant would give them the lead just minutes later.

But again, neither side could hold control of the contest, and Cam Sutcliffe would level the scores after an inspirational contested mark in the goal square.

Mayes was in fine form up the field with his second efforts leading to another opportunity, which Visentini was unable to take, but gave the Magpies back the lead.

Himmelberg was a thorn in the side of the defence in the second term with no punishment, but in the third he’d prove a difference.

After a poor set shot, he marked on the behind line to convert with a checkside, and then was the beneficiary of a forward entry from Jackson Hately.

The Magpies were on the back foot and down by 11 points, searching for answers.

Antony Wilson had two set shots to drag the margin back, with one on the left missing wide, and another on the right hitting the post, cutting it to 10 points.

Arise Brynn Teakle once more.

With the Magpies needing something on the scoreboard, the ruck/forward came again and took a terrific contested mark and converted for his fourth.

Port trailed by just three points at the final break, but as it had in the two prior quarters, Adelaide struck first.

Himmelberg marked out on the lead and made no mistake and the margin was out to nine.

The Magpies would respond in style, Nick Moore received a free kick for holding the ball and found Visentini on his own.

This time, he made no mistake and converted to put the Magpies back within a kick.

It was all about the big men for the Magpies, and Sam Hayes received a 25-metre penalty and passed to Dyl Williams who slotted it.

Both sides were throwing their bodies on the line, with plenty of free kicks going around for holding the ball.

Port would gain a buffer as Ollie Lord took a terrific leading mark and found Sutcliffe with the kick who went back and converted.

After both teams butchered opportunities, the Crows struck back through Isaya McKenzie, who snapped home to cut the margin to three points just before added time.

Gollant had a set shot to put Adelaide in front by two points, but missed to the near side, leaving the margin at a narrow three points.

Both teams would force stoppages trying to gain a clearance out of nothing to break the game, but neither would give an inch.

Isaya McKenzie won a late clearance and the ball laid firmly in the Crows’ attacking 50 deep into time on and the siren would blow to seal a famous Port Adelaide victory at Adelaide Oval.

Dumont had 27 touches, while Mead and Williams accumulated 26, with the latter also amassing eight marks down back.

SCOREBOARD

Port Adelaide   4.0       6.2       8.6       11.9     (75)

Adelaide           2.4       4.8       8.9       10.12    (72)

Port Adelaide

Goals: Teakle 4, Visentini, Sutcliffe 2, Barkla, N. Moore, Williams

Best: Williams, Mead, Sutcliffe, Mayes, Teakle