Click the video above to view Matt Primus's post-match press conference

WEST Coast has beaten Port Adelaide by five points in a NAB Cup thriller at Mandurah's Bendigo Bank Stadium, with star midfielder Daniel Kerr kicking the winning goal in his return to senior football.

After entering the final change 19 points behind, Port Adelaide mounted a late fight-back, with John McCarthy and Mitch Banner combining for three quick-fire goals to snatch a one-point lead in the dying minutes.

Kerr, however, caught young Power defender Cameron O'Shea holding the ball and converted his set shot to seal the win for West Coast 1.12.11 (92) to 1.12.6 (87) and keep the Eagles' chances of playing in the pre-season Grand Final alive.  

On a sour note for John Worsfold's team, key young onballer Luke Shuey is in doubt for the Eagles' next pre-season hit-out after suffering a rolled ankle in the lead-up to Saturday's match.

The 2011 NAB AFL Rising Star runner-up had his left ankle strapped and appeared briefly at the ground on crutches, but coach John Worsfold said the injury was minor.

The match shaped as a blowout early, with West Coast kicking the first four goals to open up a 32-point lead, but Port showed character to stay in the match until the dying stages.   

Port Adelaide's young power forward John Butcher was in brilliant touch, kicking five goals, including four in the first half, before leaving the match at three-quarter time.  

The 20-year-old provided a strong marking presence and was equally impressive at ground level, kicking two of his goals from crumbing opportunities and setting up another with a brilliant gather and handball.  

While Port's great young hope stood up, the Eagles' senior men were superb, with Dean Cox (21 possessions) and Matt Priddis (24) outstanding in the midfield.

Kerr, who was playing his first match since off-season finger surgery, started as a substitute and won 20 possessions in just over a half of football, also kicking two goals.   

"Really pleased with the hit-out for Daniel," coach John Worsfold said. "It was just what we were looking for."

Midfielder Chris Masten was perhaps the Eagles' best, playing the majority of the game on-ball and finishing with 25 possessions (13 contested) and seven inside 50s.  

"We've been really encouraged by his whole pre-season and how hard he's worked to improve his game," Worsfold said of Masten, who is entering his fifth season.

"He's seeing some of the results. His ball handling has been clean, he's running across the ground really well and he's kicking the ball really well."

The battle for the Eagles' vacant forward line spot left by injured star Mark LeCras intensified, with Ashton Hams booting two goals, and midfielder Koby Stevens playing across half-forward to also kick two.

Run-with specialist Scott Selwood, who has worked through a pre-season back injury, also played just over a half in his first pre-season match, while backman Will Schofield started brightly in his return.  

As well as Butcher, the Power would have been encouraged by the performances of 200cm forward Daniel Stewart (17 disposals and seven marks) and young ruckman Jarrad Redden (25 hit-outs).

Coach Matthew Primus said he was proud of the way his players stuck at it, with temperatures in Mandurah reaching 35 degrees.  

"They hung in there, regardless of who we had in certain positions and they were trying to play the way we want them to play," the coach said. "They competed pretty well and they've done that all pre-season."

Primus said up to six key players could return for next Saturday's clash with Fremantle at Victor Habor, including captain Dom Cassisi and joint 2011 club champions Travis Boak and Jackson Trengove.

WEST COAST        1.3.6   1.5.10   1.10.11   1.12.11 (92)                
PORT ADELAIDE    0.2.1   1.5.3   1.8.4   1.12.6 (87)
 
GOALS
West Coast: Kerr 2, Stevens 2, Hams 2, Neates 2, Masten, Cox, Swift, McInnes
Port Adelaide: Butcher 5, McCarthy 3, Salopek, Stewart, Banner, Broadbent

BEST
West Coast: Masten, Cox, Priddis, Hurn, Kerr, Stevens     
Port Adelaide: Butcher, D Stewart, Jacobs, Chaplin, Redden, McCarthy,

INJURIES
West Coast: Nil
Port Adelaide: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: O'Neill, Dalgliesh, Farmer, McPhee

Official crowd: approx. 9,000 at Bendigo Bank Stadium, Mandurah

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs