The Power had been outplayed and outperformed throughout the first two and a half terms before mounting one of, if not the greatest ever comeback at AAMI Stadium.
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But like the phoenix of legend that rises from the ashes, so too did Port Adelaide resurrect its fortunes in the ANZAC Round match by clawing back a massive deficit late in the game.
Written off 19 minutes into the third term, captain Travis Boak, Hamish Hartlett, Jake Neade and a stack of teammates combined to outrun the Eagles and claim the lead early in the fourth quarter.
The monumental turnaround by the Power continues its best-ever start to an AFL season - five wins and zero losses.
Port was shown up by the visitors for the first half with the Eagles dominating possessions, disposal efficency and contested and uncontested marks.
Eagles midfielder Matt Priddis was substituted from the game early with suspected concussion, and his teammates rallied to open a 22-point lead at the first change.
The Power struggled again in the second term - unable to find the goals more than once (through Angus Monfries) and squandered other chances in front of goal.
But the Eagles too were missing their set shots and entered the main break with a 7.13 scoreline.
It kept Port in the game, but even at the 19 minute mark of the third quarter it was hard to see where the home side would pull its fifth win for the season from.
Chad Wingard had the spark; his goal on the back of some Jake Neade magic lifting the crowd and closing the gap to 35 points late in the third.
The Power proceeded to pile on seven unanswered goals to claim the lead in the opening minutes of the final term.
Despite the Eagles kicking a responding goal through Josh Hill to reclaim the lead late in the fourth term, Port hung on to take out one of its more famous wins at AAMI Stadium.
Hamish Hartlett had a massive second half - including two goals - to win the Peter Badcoe VC Medal as part of AFL ANZAC Round.
The medal is awarded to the player adjudged to have shown the values of skill, courage in adversity, self-sacrifice, teamwork and fair play.
But those values would aptly describe the contributions of several senior leaders, including captain Travis Boak, deputy Brad Ebert and returning forward Robbie Gray.
The win continues Port Adelaide's undefeated start to the season of five consecutive victories, and cements its place in the top four.
Port Adelaide's next game will be against North Melbourne at Hobart's Blundstone Arena on Saturday May 4.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 1.0 2.5 7.7 12.12 (84)
WEST COAST 4.4 7.13 9.16 10.19 (79)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Wingard, Boak Monfries, Hartlett 2, Stewart, Neade, Broadbent, Cornes
West Coast: Kennedy 4, Cripps, Hill, Darling, Masten, Hams, Dalziell
BEST
Port Adelaide: Hartlett, Boak, Neade, Wingard, Cornes, O'Shea.
West Coast: Selwood, Shuey, Brown, Gaff, Kennedy, Cox.
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Pittard (general soreness) replaced in selected side by Lewis Stevenson.
West Coast: Matthew Priddis (concussion)
SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Robbie Gray replaced Jackson Trengove in the third quarter.
West Coast: Jamie Cripps replaced Matthew Priddis in the first quarter.
Reports: Darren Glass by umpire Pennell for rough conduct against Port Adelaide's Paul Stewart in the second quarter.
Umpires: Fila, Kamolins, Pannell
Official crowd: 26,132 at AAMI Stadium
