PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley labelled Saturday night's incredible two-point victory over St Kilda as one that "can make seasons".
Hinkley went from ruing a game that got away with two minutes to go, to celebrating a miraculous comeback after late goals to Aaron Young and Robbie Gray.
The three-time Power best and fairest sealed the win with a running goal from 50m out with seven seconds on the clock after a great tap from ruckman Patrick Ryder.
"I'll tell you exactly what I said in the box, 'How am I going to explain that?' … I didn't use quite that type of language," Hinkley said.
"Then I had that Paddy Ryder, Robbie Gray moment that all the Port people had, and just someone, something was on our team at the end of the night.
"They can make seasons."
The Power led for most of the night before the Saints hit the front in the last quarter.
But after Young's goal put the Power back within striking distance, and the ball went out of bounds in Port Adelaide's forward half, Ryder tapped the ball over his shoulder in the direction of Gray, who produced just enough power to get the ball over the goal-line.
"We've been hitting a lot in front during the night, so we rolled the dice and communicated and it just happened to open up there," Gray told radio station FiveAA.
"Paddy's hit was unbelievable and it was pleasing I was able to finish it off.
"I'm not a long kick at all, so I took every step I could and I was a bit nervous it might have got touched."
Gray's match-winning goal capped a superb night for the dual All-Australian, who played more time in the midfield in the absence of the injured Chad Wingard.
Gray finished with 27 possessions (15 contested) and five clearances in a dominant performance, while Ryder continued to press his All-Australian claims with 45 hit-outs and eight clearances.
The Power have struggled to close out games, having lost the previous four times when a match was decided by six points or less.
"We haven't felt that thrill from that type of win for a long, long time," Hinkley said.
"It's really important you can get some belief.
"I can feel off the boys coming off the ground, it's been a while since the emotion's been that high for them.
"We persisted and we found a way."
The Power now turns its attention to a massive Showdown with ladder leaders Adelaide next Sunday.
After losing their past four encounters with the Crows, Hinkley wants his players to embrace the occasion.
"I'm not bringing them back down, I'm sending them in there as confident as they've ever been hopefully and challenge the best team in the competition," he said.
This story originally appeared on afl.com.au
