AS Port Adelaide prepares to face Adelaide at Adelaide Oval in Round 20 of the 2018 AFL season, portadelaidefc.com.au looks back on the last time the sides met.

It was Round 8 this season and the sides met at Adelaide Oval with the Power 11th on the ladder and the Crows third.

The Power was considered the underdog, having lost three of its previous four matches and five in-a-row against the Crows.

A big crowd of nearly 51,000 jammed into Adelaide Oval for one of the most exciting Showdowns of all time.

The stage was set for a physical encounter when players tussled in the centre square before the first bounce.

Adelaide had taken the early advantage with four goals to one in the opening quarter and its lead sat at 27 points in the second quarter.

But everything changed in a pivotal third quarter when Robbie Gray put in a remarkable five-goal performance to put his side in front.

A goal to Sam Powell-Pepper had the Power out to a 17-point advantage deep in the last quarter but the momentum swung and Adelaide looked to have stolen victory after Mitch McGovern slotted a 50-metre set shot with 50 seconds remaining.

But from the centre bounce Dougal Howard forced the ball forward and it found its way into the arms of Steven Motlop who evaded a couple of opponents, straightened and calmly stole back the premiership points with 21 seconds remaining, becoming a Port Adelaide hero in his first ever Showdown.

Another recruit, Tom Rockliff starred with 31 disposals, four marks, and nine tackles, while Gray finished with 20 disposals, five marks and six goals, and Paddy Ryder was a monster in the ruck with 39 hit-outs, eleven disposals, five tackles and two goals.

PORT ADELAIDE    1.3   4.6   11.11  14.11 (95)
ADELAIDE              4.2   8.3   10.5    14.6  (90)

GOALS
Port Adelaide: R.Gray 6, Wingard 2, Ryder 2, S.Gray, Boak, Powell-Pepper, Motlop
Adelaide: Betts 3, Ellis-Yolmen 2, McGovern 2, Walker 2, Atkins, Jenkins, Douglas, Seedsman, Lynch 

BEST 
Port Adelaide: R.Gray, Jonas, Polec, Rockliff, Jonas, Neade, Ryder
Adelaide: Laird, Atkins, Crouch, Talia, Gibbs, Ellis-Yolmen                                                                          

INJURIES 
Port Adelaide: Nil
Adelaide: Walker (glute), Jacobs (back spasms)

Umpires: Donlon, Haussen, Meredith

Official crowd: 50,967 at the Adelaide Oval

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