This story originally appeared on afl.com.au
THIS was the performance Port Adelaide had been searching for.
Branded 'pretenders' after losing their fifth game against a top-eight opponent last round, the Power desperately needed a response.
And they found it with a stirring 32-point victory over finals rivals West Coast at Domain Stadium on Sunday.
Led by star ruckman Paddy Ryder and spearhead Charlie Dixon, who booted five goals, the Power stamped themselves as genuine contenders in this wide-open 2017 premiership race.
Exacting some revenge for a home loss to the Eagles in round seven, Port overran West Coast with an eight-goal-to-three final term to clinch a crucial 18.12 (120) to 13.10 (88) triumph.
Just like they did at Adelaide Oval earlier this season, the Ryder-Dixon combination caused the Eagles all sorts of headaches.
Only this time their efforts led to a rousing interstate victory that lifted Port to a 9-6 record and into the top four.
Ryder (39 hit-outs, two goals) jumped all over Nathan Vardy and returning big man Scott Lycett, kick-starting the Power's stunning four-goal surge from the opening bounce.
Then when the contest was on the line with scores level at the final change, the spring-heeled Port star reignited Ken Hinkley's outfit.
"He's a pretty special player," Hinkley said post-match.
"I love him, I can't help that.
"He's the best ruckman in the competition and we're lucky to have him back this year and he's just dominating games week in, week out."
Dixon's fourth major put the Power ahead early in the last term, and gun teammate Robbie Gray (three goals) – held goalless by Brad Sheppard last time – hammered the final nails in West Coast's coffin with two clutch set shots.
Dixon iced the cake with his fifth in time-on, securing Port's second win from five appearances in Perth.
Former West Coast midfielder Brad Ebert (31 disposals), Chad Wingard (21, one goal), Ollie Wines (28, one) and Travis Boak (25, one) were in everything for Port, while Justin Westhoff (two goals) was a powerhouse in the air.
West Coast's engine room competed – with Andrew Gaff (28 dispsosals), Luke Shuey (seven clearances) and Elliot Yeo (21 possessions) giving their all – but the Eagles' backline eventually buckled under the weight of inside 50s (60-42).
The Eagles will be kicking themselves for coughing up their third loss in four games at their one-time fortress.
Adam Simpson's men had complete control of the contest in the second term, booting seven unanswered goals as maligned trio Jack Darling (four goals), Mark LeCras (four) and Lewis Jetta (two) brought the home crowd to life.
From 23 points down just 12 minutes into the contest, the Eagles soared to a four-goal break at the 18-minute mark of the second stanza.
Darling carried on his resurgence from last round's upset of the Western Bulldogs, and LeCras ended the longest goal-drought of his career with his first major in five games.
But Ryder steadied the ship before half-time and a captain's goal from Travis Boak had Port in touch at the long break, despite Ebert and young gun Sam Powell-Pepper being sidelined for extended periods by shoulder issues.
Powell-Pepper needed treatment in the rooms after barreling into an unaware Yeo but bravely returned to play his part in a gutsy triumph.
West Coast coach Adam Simpson lamented his side's inability to play four quarters, and said the ninth-placed Eagles won't play finals unless they can become consistent.
"Just through weight of numbers in all areas we weren't good enough in the second half and until we can do it for four quarters we're going to look inconsistent," Simpson said.
"We put a lot of energy and effort into that first half without true reward, but that's footy, you've got to be able to do it all the time.
"Until we do that, we won't play finals."
For the Eagles, there is plenty of soul-searching to do ahead of the final Western Derby at Domain Stadium next Sunday.
Veteran Drew Petrie faces a nervous wait to see if he can take his place in his first Derby after a high bump on Matt White in the third quarter.
However, West Coast should have a readymade replacement in spearhead Josh Kennedy, who is expected to finally return after five games out battling a calf injury.
WEST COAST 4.4 7.7 10.8 13.10 (88)
PORT ADELAIDE 4.0 6.2 10.8 18.12 (120)
GOALS
West Coast: Darling 4, LeCras 4, Jetta, Petrie, Jetta, Vardy, Cripps
Port Adelaide: Dixon 5, Gray 3, Westhoff 2, Trengove 2, Ryder 2, Wines, Wingard, Boak, Hartlett
BEST
West Coast: Gaff, Darling, Jetta, Mitchell, Duggan, LeCras
Port Adelaide: Ryder, Dixon, Wingard, Ebert, Westhoff, Trengove
INJURIES
West Coast: Nil
Port Adelaide: Powell-Pepper (shoulder)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Dalgleish, Harris, Pannell
Official crowd: 36,766
