GAVIN Wanganeen has recalled how an impassioned plea from Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams inspired his last-gasp heroics in the club's famous 2004 preliminary final victory over St Kilda.
In AFL.com.au's new series What Really Happened with Kane Cornes, the two Power greats retold the story of how a shock move forward led to a lethargic first-half display from Wanganeen as the Saints stole a march on their highly fancied opponents on the road.
However, trailing by one point at three-quarter time, Wanganeen reclaimed the lead for Port Adelaide just 40 seconds into the final term with a composed set-shot from beyond 50m out.
With the scores then level in the final moments of the game, an outrageous Wanganeen snap from deep inside the forward pocket then sealed victory for the Power and helped the club on their way to a maiden premiership victory the next week.
"(At half-time) I am so shattered and I am so peed off," Wanganeen said.
"The pressure is on you as an individual, let alone the team. The previous two or three years, we'd dominated the competition for no reward in September.
"The air was very, very thick. You could slice it. A few words were said from 'Choco'.
"There was real passion from him in his voice. He said, 'we need you Gav … we bloody need you'."
