AT the end of 2013, we asked our readers to tell us their top 20 moments at Footy Park.
Like a good John Farnham comeback, the old home of SA footy is making a one-off comeback to host a NAB Challenge match between Port Adelaide and the Crows on Saturday.
So in that spirit - here's your top 20 moments...
#20. 2001 AFL Round 17 – Port Adelaide 15.14 (104) def Essendon 14.13 (97)
Up against the reigning premiers, Port Adelaide continued its quick rise to AFL powerhouse status with a thrilling seven-point win over the Bombers. Gavin Wanganeen went head-to-head with Essendon captain James Hird with Brent Guerra keeping the Power in the running with four goals. It all came down to big centre half-forward Warren Tredrea though, who kicked the winner to seal the win for Port Adelaide.
#19. 2000 AFL Round 21 – Port Adelaide 12.16 (88) def Carlton 12.11 (83)
Port Adelaide’s famous after-the-siren win over the Blues in 2000 capped a horror season where the Power bottomed out. It came down to a Peter Burgoyne thriller after the final bell. The eventual premiership player calmly slotted a beautiful shot to send Footy Park into a frenzied celebration and seal the Power’s victory.
#18. 1980 SANFL Grand Final – Port Adelaide 11.15 (81) def Norwood 9.9 (63)
The lowest-ranked of the club’s many SANFL premierships in our top 20, the 1980 flag was nevertheless a popular one for Port Adelaide. In front of 54,870 at Football Park, the Magpies capped a dominant season with a famous come-from-behind win over traditional rivals Norwood. Even with the loss of gun forward Tim Evans to a broken thumb at half-time, the famous Port resolve shone through in the final term with the Magpies kicking five goals to the Redlegs’ two.
#17. 2002 AFL Semi Final – Port Adelaide 11.17 (83) def Essendon 9.11 (59)
Famous for the pre-game brawl where the likes of Matthew Bishop and James Hird went toe-to-toe, Port Adelaide’s inaugural AFL finals victory was a bitter stoush between the high-flying Bombers and a quickly rising Power. While it was played on Friday 13 September, there was no horror story for the faithful that night when the Power overcame an early deficit to run out comfortable winners under lights.
#16. 2009 AFL Round 8 – Port Adelaide 14.18 (102) def Richmond 15.9 (99)
In what would be the first of several wet, May matches at AAMI Stadium between the two sides, Port Adelaide hosted the Tigers in a tight battle on a sloppy deck. Warren Tredrea kicked seven goals to lead the Power to a last-gasp win over Richmond that day, in one of the club’s modern day classics at West Lakes.
#15. 2002 AFL Round 9 – Port Adelaide 14.7 (91) def Collingwood 12.14 (86)
Port supporters love this game. Against the club that today loves to emphasise its ‘us against them’ mantra, Port's true believers felt a similar sentiment when their team was forced to wear teal training jumpers at a home game against league giants Collingwood. It was the Alberton faithful who had the last laugh though, when Collingwood’s Anthony Rocca had a chance to draw the game just before the siren, only to miss with seconds remaining on the clock. A famous win for a fighting Power!
#14. 2006 AFL Round 21 – Port Adelaide 14.11 (95) def Adelaide Crows 11.15 (81)
In this typical underdog victory. Port Adelaide had a poor year and their local rivals were up and about. With the Crows tipped to play in that year’s Grand Final, it was the Power who dented their momentum with a rallying 14-point win. Brett Ebert was pivotal up forward with three goals while enforcer Chad Cornes dominated with proceedings to win the Showdown Medal.
#13. 1989 SANFL Grand Final – Port Adelaide 15.16 (106) def North Adelaide 1.8 (14)
They game with one goal in mind. So would North Adelaide be taunted for years after Port’s resounding 1989 Grand Final win. The Magpies stormed out of the blocks to humiliate the Roosters at Football Park in the final win of the eighties. Scott Hodges and Darren Smith kicked four goals each, while Andrew Obst, Greg Phillips and Roger Delaney contributed through the middle and in defence. An absolute classic!
#12. 1999 SANFL Grand Final – Port Adelaide 14.17 (101) def Norwood 14.9 (93)
After dominating the competition for a decade, Port closed the 20th century with a hard-fought win over its bitter rival. It was Phil McGuinness who launched a 60-metre torpedo on the run to seal the deal for the Magpies and deliver its 36th SANFL pennant. Paul Northeast (above) was more than happy to tell us how many flags he'd won during his career as well...
#11. 1996 SANFL Preliminary Final – Port Adelaide 9.12 (66) def Norwood 9.8 (62)
If Scott Hodges wasn’t a football immortal before this game, he certainly was after it. With Norwood leading late in the match, Hodges won a free kick with just seconds on the clock remaining. He proceeded to slot the winner for the Magpies (and stick the dagger through the hearts of the Redlegs supporters at the ground!) in the crucial qualifying win of 1996. What a guy!
#10. 1997 AFL Round 3 – Port Adelaide 18.21 (129) def Geelong 14.6 (90)
“We didn’t make excuses, we just played tough hard football and if we were good enough we won, if we weren’t we didn’t.” - John Cahill, 1997 coach
Fresh from two losses against Collingwood (at the MCG) and Essendon (at Football Park), the Power entered Round 3 full of resolve against one of the form sides of the decade in Geelong. Port wasn't expected to win many games in 1997 (if any) but pulled its debut AFL victory our early with a stirring performance against the Cats. Donald Dickie and David Brown were like men possessed on the field, racking up possession tallies of 26 and 30 respectively, while big full forward Scott Cummings booted five goals.
#8. 1990 SANFL Grand Final – Port Adelaide 16.12 (108) def Glenelg 13.15 (93)
1990 was famous for many reasons, none more so than Port Adelaide's audacious (others argue traitorous) bid to join the AFL for the 1991 season. The innovators of SA had the last laugh by thumping bitter rivals Glenelg in a frenzied final with more than mere bragging rights on the line. History says the SANFL formed the Adelaide Crows for the 1991 season, but Port had another state trophy and momentum to launch its second bid just years later.
#8. 2012 AFL Round 8– Port Adelaide 14.11 (95) def North Melbourne 14.9 (93)
This unbelievable come-from-behind win over North Melbourne was the first of many to come in the past five years. 32 points down, eight minutes into the last quarter, it seemed unlikely that Port Adelaide, fresh from six consecutive losses, would overcome the deficit against a higher-rated North Melbourne. But cue the comeback, with a late flurry of goals and a beautiful sealer from Paul Stewart. The Power took the points home - to everyone's surprise.
#7. 1994 SANFL Grand Final – Port Adelaide 15.16 (106) def Woodville-West Torrens 10.9 (69)
Woodville-West Torrens were the reigning premiers and led at every change in 1994. But they couldn't match Port Adelaide's trademark grit and hard work. Never underestimate a Magpie when it's down, or Scott Hodges with a bung leg having a day out in the final quarter...
#6. 2002 AFL Round 22 – Port Adelaide 13.12 (90) def Brisbane Lions 13.6 (84)
Described by late commentator Clinton Grybas as the best game that wasn't a grand final, Port Adelaide clinched its first AFL minor premiership with a nail-biting hang-on finish against the Lions at AAMI Stadium thanks to a cruicial late goal to Roger James, sending the bumper Port crowd into an absolute frenzy. Even the TV cameras shook!
#5. 2013 AFL Round 5 – Port Adelaide 12.12 (84) def West Coast Eagles 10.19 (79)
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, but found itself humbled by the Eagles, eventually trailling by 41 points with seven minutes left in the third quarter. It took a late-game rally with Chad Wingard and Travis Boak leading the way to reverse the form in a thrilling turnaround at AAMI Stadium - one of the steals of 2013.
#4. 1977 SANFL Grand Final – Port Adelaide 17.11 (113) def Glenelg 16.9 (105)
LIFE was tough if you were a Port Adelaide supporter in 1977. You hadn’t seen a Port Adelaide premiership for 12 years. But this was the year the drought broke, with the Russell Ebert-captained, John Cahill-coached Magpies fighting out a brutal game against Glenelg to clinch the league centenary premiership. It was definitely worth it, Russ.
#3. 1997 AFL Round 4 – Port Adelaide 11.17 (83) def Adelaide Crows 11.6 (72)
Enmity, thy name is Showdown. Playing its first AFL game in 1997 was no mean achievement for Port Adelaide, after fighting to join the AFL years earlier. Now it was on the national stage. In a ferocious first Showdown, the Power hung on as goals were kicked, punches thrown, and hearts (fortunately Crows hearts) to take ultimate bragging rights - first Showdown winners.
#2. 2013 AFL Round 19 – Port Adelaide 17.5 (107) def Adelaide Crows 15.13 (103)
"What a champion he is. He's the most important footballer right now in this state." - Bruce McAvaney
#1. 2004 AFL Preliminary Final – Port Adelaide 14.10 (94) def St Kilda 13.10 (88)
"It was without doubt the most important and memorable game in the club's history." - 2004 AFL premiership captain Warren Tredrea
Everything was on the line. Port Adelaide, after twice failing to make the decider in 2002 and 2003, had been granted another chance at a first AFL Grand Final berth after defeating Geelong at Football Park in a qualifying final two weeks earlier. In a belter at AAMI Stadium, the Power held off a determined St Kilda to claim entry onto the code's biggest stage against the Lions. Port Adelaide would be premiers that year, but only for this famous win at Footy Park.
