A PERSISTENT Port Adelaide has fallen to West Coast by 22 points at Patersons Stadium on Sunday.

The Eagles moved to outright fifth on the ladder following the 15.20 (110) to 13.10 (88) win.

In an entertaining clash full of second half highlights, the Power were courageous and refused to concede defeat, kicking three straight goals early in the fourth term to draw within 17 points.

However, West Coast half-back Shannon Hurn, who had already kicked two superb goals from 60m, rose to the challenge and snapped another to steady his side, which has now won six of its last eight games.

As well as Hurn, who is having an outstanding season and was best afield with 25 possessions and seven inside 50s, midfielders Matt Priddis (28 possessions and six clearances) and Daniel Kerr (27 and seven) were important in the second half.

Key forward Josh Kennedy is also having a terrific year and he booted three goals, with Mark LeCras kicking four.

The Eagles were well-held by Port at the stoppages, losing the clearances 14-21 in the first half before recovering to narrowly win the indicator 39-38.

Port's best players were therefore found in the midfield, with Travis Boak (24 possessions and three goals) outstanding.

Captain Dom Cassisi returned to have a big impact with 24 disposals and six clearances, while Danyle Pearce worked hard to finish with a game-high 30 possessions.  

West Coast entered half-time 33 points clear and, aside from an inaccurate display in front of goal that had netted 8.11, the match was going to script with the Power expected to fade.

They didn't, kicking five goals to three in the third term to send a scare through Patersons Stadium before the match went up another gear in the final quarter. 

A Scott Selwood volley goal, long-range running goals from Boak and Hamish Hartlett and courageous efforts from Tom Swift and Adam Selwood filled the highlights reel in the last quarter.

DREAM TEAM HIGHLIGHTS
Port Adelaide: Captain Domenic Cassisi ($371,100) made a terrific return with 133 Dream Team points with Travis Boak ($367,500) racking up 106 and Danyle Pearce ($233,000) 105.
 
QUARTER BY QUARTER
First quarter
It was a relatively lacklustre opening quarter from both teams, but West Coast did as most expected to open up a handy 15-point break at quarter-time thanks to two goals from Mark LeCras and one to Josh Kennedy.
 
Second quarter
The first two goals of the second term rammed home West Coast's advantage and stretched its lead to 32 points when Matt Priddis snapped truly at the 27-minute mark and by half-time the home side were comfortably ahead with a 33-point advantage.
 
Third quarter
Port Adelaide came out rejuvenated with Justin Westhoff, Daniel Stewart and Simon Phillips kicking goals inside the first four minutes to bring the margin back to 15 points. West Coast steadied when Nic Naitanui kicked a goal from a free kick before Shannon Hurn kicked a monster goal from beyond 60m. That was enough to see the Eagles to a 23-point lead at the last change.
 
Fourth quarter
The Eagles put the game beyond doubt early in the last term with sub Brad Ebert and tagger Scott Selwood kicking goals in the first two-and-a-half minutes. The Power hit back with goals to Travis Boak, Hamish Hartlett and Cameron O'Shea, but the Eagles steadied to run out 22-point winners.

THE NEXT FOUR
Port Adelaide: The Power now face a month of winnable games against North (AAMI), Brisbane (Gabba), St Kilda (AAMI) and Melbourne (TIO).


West Coast             3.6   8.11   11.14   15.20   (110)
Port Adelaide        1.3    3.8     8.9      13.10    (88)
 
GOALS
West Coast: LeCras 4, Hurn 3, Kennedy 3, A Selwood, Priddis, Naitanui, Ebert, S Selwood
Port Adelaide: Boak 3, Gray, Pearce, Westhoff, Stewart, Phillips, Trengove, Hartlett, O'Shea, Logan, Schulz
 
BEST
West Coast: Hurn, Priddis, LeCras, Rosa, Kerr, Glass
Port Adelaide: Boak, Cassisi, Pearce, Cornes, Logan, Thomas
 
INJURIES
West Coast: Nil
Port Adelaide: Nil
 
SUBSTITUTIONS
West Coast: Jack Darling replaced by Brad Ebert in the third quarter
Port Adelaide: Daniel Stewart replaced by Ben Jacobs in the third quarter
 
Reports: Nil
 
Umpires: Farmer, Margetts, Dalgleish
 
Official crowd: 35,059 at Patersons Stadium

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