EVERYONE had to contribute. Some did more than others. A few did better than most. In the end, as much as the game against Collingwood was about banking four premiership points, it demanded Port Adelaide honour Travis Boak in his 300th AFL match.
Job done.
There were some tense moments, particularly when Collingwood twice brought the margin back to single figures in the third and last terms under the roof at the Docklands in west Melbourne.
And each time - while no-one needed runner Chad Cornes coming off the bench with a sharp reminder of the responsibility to deliver for Boak - Port Adelaide responded. And the response was delivered with conviction off fast-moving plays against a solid, well-drilled Collingwood defence (although it shall be interesting to see how many pundits and critics were convinced).
"I am proud of that effort ... after a funny old week," said Boak, the major image of the Port Adelaide revival in the "never tear us apart" era since 2013 who - by COVID issues - was denied this milestone moment at home at Adelaide Oval before his Port Adelaide family and his immediate family.
By the momentum swings it certainly was a "funny old match", albeit not a repeat of the nail-biting, head-thumping grind from two months earlier at the MCG where Port Adelaide won the "away" contest by one point.
Once again, Collingwood tested Port Adelaide's patience ... and nerve. The 19-point lead from half-time became 32 during the third term and then just eight before it finished at 21 to ensure Port Adelaide won the quarter by two points.
That 21 fell to nine during the final term before Port Adelaide responded to win the quarter by seven points - and the match by 28.
Once again, the barometer of Port Adelaide matches this season was true. Port Adelaide won the clearances (38-33) and won the contested ball (142-127) ... and won the match.
Port Adelaide is 13-5 in a 22-game qualifying season for the first time since 2004 (the club's breakthrough AFL premiership season). As senior coach Ken Hinkley has noted, the clan of doubters in Port Adelaide's credibility in the 2021 race will not shrink ... even while his team commands a top-four ranking.
But his players keep banking the wins, keep re-introducing players (such as Xavier Duursma, Connor Rozee and Zak Butters) who will be vital to the bigger campaign in September when it is a new race among eight and keep waiting for more reinforcements (in particular Orazio Fantasia, Steven Motlop and Robbie Gray).
"We keep winning, we keep enjoying it ... and we keep growing," says Boak.
The team delivered as was a non-negotiable expectation for the sixth Port Adelaide player to reach 300 senior games for the club and just the second at AFL level.
Some individuals took on this demand with performances that confirm Boak's observation that moment by difficult moment there is meaningful growth in Port Adelaide's squad.
Willem Drew (32 disposals with 17 contested possessions and eight clearances) answered the question of when will Port Adelaide's midfield drive be more than just Boak, Ollie Wines and Karl Amon.
Todd Marshall (3.0 with three critical marks inside the 50-metre forward arc) repaid the faith while many were looking for his demotion or reinvention as a sweeper in defence (as Justin Westhoff 2.0).
Lead ruckman Scott Lycett (27 hit-outs) once again had memorable moments in the growing (and absorbing) grudge sessions with fellow South Australian Brodie Grundy (23).
Key forward Charlie Dixon (4.3) delivered some critical marks against Collingwood defender Jordan Roughead and impressive long-range goals to restore the momentum swing in Port Adelaide's favour during the third and fourth terms.
Dan Houston put polish on his line and zone-busting ball delivery. Miles Bergman again showed his nack of arriving at marking contests with perfect split-second timing - and was cruelly robbed of a pack mark at the goalfront during the third term.
Back-up ruckman and forward Peter Ladhams proved his value as a go-to target alongside Dixon inside-50.
Each contribution counted in a match that seemed split open during the second term when Port Adelaide put Collingwood under intense pressure - by forcing turnovers and locking play in the forward half - with an unanswered four-goal run.
Collingwood responded. So did Port Adelaide. And Boak, the ultimate team man, was appropriately honoured by a team effort at the end of a bizarre week.
In the COVID era, Port Adelaide is now unbeaten - three from three - in home matches moved from Adelaide Oval to Queensland or Victoria in the past 18 months. This leaves a reassuring note - of the strength of the football program when the team is taken out of its comfort zone - amid the uncertainty on where Port Adelaide's remaining four "home-and-away" matches will be played.
