Rodan played just 29% of the game but managed a game-high seven clearances and kicked an important goal to steady the Power in the final term.
[ Related: Match Highlights on PTV ]
Some eyebrows were raised when the home side handed the red vest to lead ruckman Redden deep into the third quarter, but Rodan’s ‘super-sub’ performance combined with Daniel Stewart’s eight hit-out final quarter more than justified Matthew Primus’s decision.
Daniel Stewart was more than just a one-quarter wonder too, continuing his impressive pre-season form with a solid four-quarter effort where he took three contested marks, showed his desperation with four ‘1%ers’ and booted a goal.
He was ably supported up forward by John Butcher, Justin Westhoff and Jay Schulz, who all kicked two goals as part of the Power’s four-pronged tall forward line.
Hamish Hartlett was viewed by most pundits as Port Adelaide’s best player in the gutsy win, with the classy 21 year old racking up 26 possessions off the half back line - using the ball superbly at 81% efficiency.
[ Related: Vote for your player of the game ]
The Power’s blue-collar midfield was effectively led by Kane Cornes, Dom Cassisi, Brad Ebert and Matt Thomas, who combined for 17 of the Power’s 44 clearances, giving the home side a clear advantage of the Saints who managed just 29.
Ebert and Thomas were fierce around the packs laying 12 and 10 tackles respectively.
Jacob Surjan perhaps epitomised the Port Adelaide passion and desperation with four tackles and four 1%ers while restricting livewire forward Stephen Milne to just two goals.
Player Stats
Kane Cornes (27 disposals) - 12 kicks, 15 handballs, 81% efficiency, 4 inside 50s, 4 tackles, 97 DT points
Hamish Hartlett (26) - 21 kicks, 5 handballs, 10 contested possessions, 81% efficiency, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal, 109 DT points
John McCarthy (23) - 15 kicks, 8 handballs, 4 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 4 tackles, 1 goal
Domenic Cassisi (21) - 12 kicks, 9 handballs, 9 contested possessions, 5 clearances, 6 tackles
Brad Ebert (21) - 14 kicks, 7 handballs, 9 contested possessions, 12 tackles, 2 goals, 129 DT points
Travis Boak (19) - 8 kicks, 11 handballs, 11 contested possessions, 4 clearances, 1 goal
Matt Thomas (17) - 6 kicks, 11 handballs, 13 contested possessions, 5 clearances, 10 tackles
Matthew Broadbent (16) - 10 kicks, 6 handballs, 4 clearances, 4 tackles, 4 1%ers
Chad Wingard (16) - 3 kicks, 13 handballs, 9 contested possessions, 2 clearances, 4 running bounces
Troy Chaplin (15) - 9 kicks, 6 handballs, 9 contested possessions, 3 tackles, 4 1%ers
Cameron O’Shea (15) - 8 kicks, 7 handballs, 80% efficiency, 5 marks, 2 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s
Jacob Surjan (14) - 7 kicks, 7 handballs, 5 marks, 3 rebound 50s, 4 tackles, 4 1%ers
Ben Jacobs (12) - 5 kicks, 7 handballs
Jarrad Redden (12) - 6 kicks, 6 handballs, 8 contested possessions, 21 hitouts, 4 clearances, 3 1%ers, 53% time on ground
Daniel Stewart (12) - 9 kicks, 3 handballs, 3 contested marks, 14 hitouts, 4 1%ers, 1 goal
David Rodan (11) - 3 kicks, 8 handballs, 9 contested possessions, 7 clearances, 3 running bounces, 1 goal, 29% time on ground
Paul Stewart (11) - 10 kicks, 1 handball, 7 marks, 3 rebound 50s
Alipate Carlile (9) - 8 kicks, 1 handball, 100% efficiency, 3 marks, 3 1%ers
Danyle Pearce (9) - 7 kicks, 2 handballs, 2 inside 50s, 2 tackles, 2 bounces
Jay Schulz (9) - 8 kicks, 1 handball, 6 marks, 4 marks inside 50, 5 tackles, 2 goals
Justin Westhoff (9) - 6 kicks, 3 handballs, 3 marks, 3 1%ers, 2 goals
John Butcher (8) - 5 kicks, 3 handballs, 3 1%ers, 2 goals
