Fresh from four consecutive wins over Melbourne, the GWS Giants, Adelaide and Gold Coast, Port Adelaide came into its Round 5 game against the Eagles full of momentum.
West Coast was an early flag fancy and the Power had defeated them during the NAB Cup in Alice Springs.
But despite the Power's great run of form, and the Eagles' steady start to the year, the two teams came into the game evenly poised.
It was West Coast on the hop early and they had the Power well and truly covered.
it was a humbling first half.
While Eagle Josh Kennedy was having a night out up forward with the first two goals to start the game, and three in total for the opening quarter, Port could only manage a sole major.
Trailing by 22 points at quarter-time, Port's second term went just as poorly.
West Coast had twelve scoring opportunities for the term, and goals to Kennedy, Josh Hill and Jack Darling, while the Power only managed to trouble the scorekeepers with a goal to Angus Monfries and five behinds.
Now 38 points down, the Power seemingly had little hope of touching the Eagles. The visitors were dominating in every aspect of the game and, if not for inaccuracy in front of goals, would have landed the death blow for the night.
True to its 2013 mantra of never giving up, Port flicked the switch after half time and came out swinging.
Chad Wingard goaled in the second minute of the quarter and was quickly backed up by another through Paul Stewart.
The Eagles then kicked truly through Ashton Hams and Chris Masten, followed by a behind to Mark LeCras to extend a 41-point lead.
With seven minutes and a quarter left to play, and no momentum in its favour, the result looked set against the Power.
But then Wingard kicked his second, and was followed promptly by Jake Neade and Matt Broadbent.
The Power was down by 21 at the final change, and then the floodgates opened.
Hamish Hartlett kicked his second goal 44 seconds into the last term.
Kane Cornes joined the party too, before skipper Travis Boak lifted in a crucial minute to kick the Power into the lead.
While Eagle Josh Kennedy was having a night out up forward with the first two goals to start the game, and three in total for the opening quarter, Port could only manage a sole major.
Trailing by 22 points at quarter-time, Port's second term went just as poorly.
West Coast had twelve scoring opportunities for the term, and goals to Kennedy, Josh Hill and Jack Darling, while the Power only managed to trouble the scorekeepers with a goal to Angus Monfries and five behinds.
Now 38 points down, the Power seemingly had little hope of touching the Eagles. The visitors were dominating in every aspect of the game and, if not for inaccuracy in front of goals, would have landed the death blow for the night.
True to its 2013 mantra of never giving up, Port flicked the switch after half time and came out swinging.
Chad Wingard goaled in the second minute of the quarter and was quickly backed up by another through Paul Stewart.
The Eagles then kicked truly through Ashton Hams and Chris Masten, followed by a behind to Mark LeCras to extend a 41-point lead.
With seven minutes and a quarter left to play, and no momentum in its favour, the result looked set against the Power.
But then Wingard kicked his second, and was followed promptly by Jake Neade and Matt Broadbent.
The Power was down by 21 at the final change, and then the floodgates opened.
Hamish Hartlett kicked his second goal 44 seconds into the last term.
Kane Cornes joined the party too, before skipper Travis Boak lifted in a crucial minute to kick the Power into the lead.
He had a brilliant game. A captain's game.
The momentum had swung to the Power, but the Eagle's weren't out of it yet.
The momentum had swung to the Power, but the Eagle's weren't out of it yet.
Only Bradd Dalziell could kick truly for the visitors int he final quarter, but it was a critical one - putting West Coast back into the lead with ten minutes to play.
With everything on the line, Jake Neade took the game on down the wing and set up Robbie Gray inside 50.
With everything on the line, Jake Neade took the game on down the wing and set up Robbie Gray inside 50.
A deft handpass found recent recruit Angus Monfries in the pocket, allowing the ex-Bomber to striding into goals and kick the ball into orbit.
The Power was in the lead again.
It was enough to seal the deal as the Power snuck home by the skin of their teeth with the undoubted steal of the year!
Tomorrow portadelaidefc.com.au reveals number four in its Footy Park Flashbacks countdown ahead of the final reveal on the AAMI Stadium superscreen at 3:40pm on Saturday afternoon.
Other Footy Park Flashbacks
#6 Round 22, 2002: Port Adelaide def Brisbane Lions
#7 Grand Final, 1994: Port Adelaide def Woodville-West Torrens
#8 Round 8, 2012: Port Adelaide def North Melbourne
#9 Grand Final, 1990: Port Adelaide def Glenelg
#10 Round 3, 1997: Port Adelaide def Geelong
#10-#20 Footy Park Flashbacks bottom ten
FINAL SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 1.0 2.5 7.7 12.12 (84)
WEST COAST 4.4 7.13 9.16 10.19 (79)
Goals: Hartlett, Monfries, Wingard, Boak 2, Neade, Broadbent, P. Stewart, Cornes
Best: Boak, Hartlett, Wingard, Cornes, O'Shea
Captain: T. Boak
Coach: K. Hinkley
Crowd: 26,132 at AAMI Stadium
