PORT Adelaide has broken a four-year drought against Essendon with the help of four goals from ex-Bomber Paddy Ryder.
Ryder's was quiet in the first half, but the Power ruckman banged home four critical goals in the second to help new club over the line and consign his old team to their first loss against Port since 2010.
The Power took control in the second term of an error-riddled game thanks to a run of six goals broken by a sole Bomber point and was never headed again.
In a game of pendulum-like momentum, Essendon swung things back it its favour with an important third quarter performance where they kicked four goals to the Power's three.
But the Power steadied in the final term and with Ryder kicking three and aiding White with his first of the night, Port had the result in hand, even when Daniher and Hooker brought the margin back within 15 points.
Eventually finishing 13 points up at the final siren, the result puts the Power at 7-9, but still well off the pace of the competition leaders.
Port will need to win all six remaining games to be a chance to play finals.
Goal-for-goal
Both sides traded goals throughout the night in a see-saw display, but Port was able to get the better of Essendon's momentum at key points despite being dominated on the possession count.
After conceding three easy goals to Essendon in the first quarter, a slow and responsive Port was forced to use handball to navigate the field.
Goals to Ebert and Wingard eventually stemmed the flow of Essendon control, but the Power lacked polish and conceded possession throughout the term through errant kicks and poor disposal by hand.
Only Matthew Broadbent stood up with his pinpoint kicking having a hand in two of the Power’s three first-quarter goals.
Concerning was Essendon’s nearly-unchallenged command of the ball during the quarter - winning 28 more uncontested possessions on a deck that favours run-and-carry.
The second term was more favourable to the Power, although the reasonable attendance of their fans were silenced early when Essendon again found clean space to run up three goals.
Cleaner use around stoppages was lacking for Port, but improvement in clearances was important in turning the direction of the game in its favour.
An inspired six-goal run punctured by a sole behind to Zach Merrett got Port in control of the game and looking classy and capable of easy score.
Holding an eight-point advantage at the long break, the Power started its third term exactly as it needed - wtih goals to Gray and Ryder to open up an 20-point advantage.
But in a game where momentum had proved a swinging pendulum all night, Essendon came back - hard - and booted three goals through Zaharakis, Laverde and Langford to close within two behinds.
Ryding high
Patrick Ryder stood up when his side needed a hero, scoring four goals and having a hand in Matt White's important booster to seal Port the match.
Despite having little impact to three-quarter time, Ryder's final 35 minutes were critical in getting the game in Port's hands.
Spurred on by the jeers of the Essendon crowd, Ryder confidently turned with the ball in hand to kick long, booming shots and edged a kick over the goal line to keep his club's nose in front.
He wasn't the only one who lifted when the game was on the line.
Travis Boak returned to the field after a ginger exit to play an important leadership role for his side through the midfield. He finished with two goals for the game.
Jay Schulz and Chad Wingard also managed three each on a night where both had to be creative to win space and ball.
Wingard nearly took mark of the year in an aerial contortion that had fans of both persuasions stunned.
Wines, Gray and Ebert also contributed through the middle in a blue collar day for the Power's midfielders.
Port Adelaide next plays St Kilda at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday 2 August.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 4.3 10.5 13.6 20.9 (129)
ESSENDON 6.1 8.9 12.12 17.14 (116)
PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU’S BEST
Ryder, Broadbent, Wines, Boak, Wingard
GOALS
Ryder 4, Schulz, Wingard 3, Neade, Boak 2, Ebert, Westhoff, Lobbe, R. Gray, White
SUBSTITUTION
Aaron Young replaced Angus Monfries at three-quarter time
INJURIES
nil
CROWD
23,705 at Etihad Stadium
