PORT Adelaide has begun season 2012 in outstanding fashion, overcoming a determined St Kilda outfit to score a thrilling four-point victory at AAMI Stadium on Sunday night.
A horror 2011 season was clearly history as a refreshed Power unit outlasted the Saints in a desperate final quarter.
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Nick Riewoldt goaled to bring the Saints within four points with just a few minutes left on the clock as they tried to pinch the victory, before the Power's night was saved by the bell.
The win showcased a renewed endeavour, desperation and competitiveness from the Power - exactly what coach Matthew Primus demanded over the pre-season.
The Power mentor said he was extremely nervous during the game's dying stages.
"I was a little bit nervous, I suppose, I wasn't sure how much time was left," Primus said after the win.
"I was really proud of our ability to hang in.
"It was great for the players to get some belief out of all the work we've done ... the platform it's given them is pretty good.
"We were able to keep finding match-ups and keep competing, which is what we've spoken about over the summer.
"Now we have to try and produce that again."
Power veterans Dom Cassisi (21 possessions) and Kane Cornes (27) combined brilliantly with the next crop of stars in Hamish Hartlett (26 disposals, one goal), Brad Ebert (21, two goals), John McCarthy (23 disposals) and Chad Wingard (16).
Jarrad Redden (12 disposals, 21 hit-outs) and Daniel Stewart (15 hit-outs, one goal) were outstanding in the ruck and up forward, while Troy Chaplin ensured Riewoldt's impact was manageable.
The home side looked determined to prove its NAB Cup form was no fluke, racing out of the blocks to a 19-point quarter-time lead.
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St Kilda sharpened up in the second though, and while the Power's Redden was competing well in the ruck, the Saints' midfield brigade of Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo and Leigh Montagna began to take control.
Port's intensity dropped off around the ground and the visitors hit the lead shortly before half-time, when Clinton Jones booted St Kilda's seventh goal for the quarter.
Redden continued to give Hartlett, Travis Boak, Ebert and McCarthy first use, while Wingard's attack and skill level justified the pre-season hype that surrounded his debut.
It was anyone's match in the last and although Justin Westhoff and substitute David Rodan goaled, when Dal Santo also converted it looked as though the Saints might just have snatched the momentum.
Riewoldt reduced the margin to within a kick, but the visitors ran out of time as they made one final surge forward; the siren sounding with the ball on St Kilda's forward flank.
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PORT ADELAIDE 5.2 8.6 11.9 13.11 (89)
ST KILDA 2.1 9.3 11.4 13.7 (85)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Schulz (2), Butcher (2), Westhoff (2), Brad Ebert (2), Stewart McCarthy, Hartlett, Boak, Rodan
St Kilda: Koschitzke (3), Milne (2), Riewoldt (2), Dal Santo (2), Montagna, Stanley, Jones, Milera
BEST
Port Adelaide: Hartlett, Cornes, Ebert, Redden, Chaplin, McCarthy
St Kilda: Dal Santo, Goddard, Steven, Hayes, Geary, Riewoldt
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
St Kilda: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Official crowd: 21,179 at AAMI Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
