PORT ADELAIDE has pulled off a surprise win by beating premiership favourite West Coast in Alice Springs.

With both teams playing close to full strength sides, the Power prevailed in a nail-biting clash with Supergoals, momentum swings and hometown heroes lifting the Traeger Park crowd.

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The match was shortened and interchange capping removed as temperatures held at 32 degrees after sundown.

The Eagles dominated proceedings early, but Port Adelaide hit the accelerator when Chad Wingard booted the Power’s first goal 14 minutes into the opening term.

Majors to Jay Schulz and Lewis Stevenson softened the damage of Eagle Josh Kennedy’s three goal performance in the first term to see the Power trail by seven points at the first break.

Port Adelaide took the advantage with a five goal to one second term and was never headed again.

Two more goals to Chad Wingard and singles to Paul Stewart, Hamish Hartlett and Matthew Lobbe gave the Power a thirteen point buffer at half time.

A supergoal to Cameron O’Shea and majors to Jay Schulz and Justin Westhoff early in the third helped to extend the Power’s lead to 34 points, before the Eagles hit back with two goals to Josh Hill and a nine-pointer to Shannon Hurn.

Nursing a slender five point buffer at the final change, it was Northern Territorian Jake Neade who lifted the Alice Springs crowd to its feet with a thrilling goal four minutes into the quarter. It gave Port a twelve point lead that was supplemented by Andrew Moore booting two goals in a seven minute period to secure the win.

It was an impressive performance for a Port Adelaide side looking to atone for two years of disappointment under a new football regime.

Port was able to win possession by virtue of its intense pressure right across the ground while its composure inside 50 squared up prime goal kicking options.

Captain Travis Boak returned to the side after missing last week’s match in Renmark and led the way with 24 touches for Port.

Brad Ebert also proved a versatile linking option for the Power with 19 disposals and 11 marks and pulled off a courageous diving tackle on Andrew Gaff to prevent the Eagles from equalising late in the match.

Hamish Hartlett was active early in the game before being silenced in the second half, while Tom Jonas was a shining light across half back.

The win came as Port Adelaide was confirmed to play Sydney at AAMI Stadium in the final NAB Cup round next Saturday.

Matching up against the reigning premiers in that game will provide another challenge for a young Port outfit heartened in the knowledge it can withstand challenges from polished sides.

The Power currently stands with two wins and two losses during the NAB Cup.

Final scores
Port Adelaide 1.13.5 (92) def
West Coast Eagles 1.11.11 (86)

Supergoals: O'Shea
Goals: Wingard 3, Schulz, Moore 2, Stevenson, P. Stewart, Hartlett, Lobbe, Westhoff, Neade
Best: Boak, Brad Ebert, Wingard, Hartlett, Jonas
Reports: nil
Injuries: nil

portadelaidefc.com.au will have a full match replay of the Power v Eagles clash online Sunday.