Erin Phillips celebrates a goal during round three, 2023. Picture: AFL Photos

PORT Adelaide has fought back from 20 points down to beat St Kilda by eight points and claim its first win of the AFLW season.

The Saints appeared destined to secure their first victory of 2023 when Jesse Wardlaw nudged their lead beyond three goals in the third quarter at RSEA Park on Sunday.

But forwards Hannah Ewings and Indy Tahau kicked four goals between them to give Port Adelaide the edge, before skipper Erin Phillips nailed the sealer, her first goal in Power colours, for a 8.8 (56) to 7.6 (48) victory.

06:00

AFLW Highlights: St Kilda v Port Adelaide

The Saints and Power clash in round three of the 2023 NAB AFLW Season

Port Adelaide midfielders Phillips (20 disposals and six clearances) and Abbey Dowrick (24 touches, nine clearances, 567m gained) didn't stop while youngster Matilda Scholz and Tahau were a strong ruck combination.

St Kilda's Jaimee Lambert kicked two goals and racked up 16 disposals and nine tackles in a tireless performance, while Darcy Guttridge also kicked two.

SAINTS v POWER Full match coverage and stats

Port Adelaide controlled the game's early moments but St Kilda worked its way into the first quarter, with Nicola Xenos putting the Saints in front after Port was penalised for a deliberate out-of-bounds.

The Saints led by six points at halftime and after Lambert and Wardlaw goaled in quick succession, they appeared on track to claim victory.

00:38

Wardlaw breaks through for first in new colours

Jesse Wardlaw sticks a strong grab and drills her maiden major for St Kilda

Instead, the Power kicked the next five goals.

Port's Janelle Cuthbertson and St Kilda's J'Noemi Anderson had to come off after a nasty head clash in the third quarter, with the latter concussed and unable to return.

Port Adelaide cut the deficit to five points before three-quarter time via a bizarre Tahau goal.

00:52

Insane goal-line bounce defies physics in huge Power major

Indy Tahau's kick towards goal bounces backwards on the behind line and somehow travels through the big sticks

Tahau's running shot landed on the goal line and seemed destined to go through for a point before the ball bounced at right angles and hit the goal umpire.

After a discussion with the field umpire, it was ruled a goal.

Early in the final term, Saint handballed to Ewings, who kicked an extraordinary goal to put the Power in front.

Tahau and Phillips struck to seal an impressive comeback win.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 00:38

    Ash causing trouble with cracking early double

    Ash Saint nails the opener before converting a terrific contested grab

    AFLW
  • 00:56

    Guttridge fires Saints back after controversial line-ball call

    Darcy Guttridge nails a brilliant bending snap before appearing to step over the goal-line with her second major

    AFLW
  • 00:38

    Boag nails special moment after great grunt work

    Ella Boag executes a superb tackle and drills her first career major

    AFLW
  • 00:38

    Wardlaw breaks through for first in new colours

    Jesse Wardlaw sticks a strong grab and drills her maiden major for St Kilda

    AFLW
  • 00:36

    Ewings goes again and drills a downtown ripper

    Hannah Ewings gets the footy back after kicking it inside 50 and nails a super goal from long range

    AFLW
  • 00:52

    Insane goal-line bounce defies physics in huge Power major

    Indy Tahau's kick towards goal bounces backwards on the behind line and somehow travels through the big sticks

    AFLW
  • 00:36

    Electric Ewings catches fire with incredible GOTY contender

    Hannah Ewings curls through an outstanding major from tight on the boundary

    AFLW
  • 00:37

    Phillips' long-awaited first goal for Port means the world

    Erin Phillips stays down off the pack and slots her much-anticipated first major for the Power to ice the match

    AFLW
  • 04:50

    AFLW full post-match, R3: Power

    Watch Port Adelaide's press conference after round three's match against St Kilda

    AFLW
  • 06:00

    AFLW Highlights: St Kilda v Port Adelaide

    The Saints and Power clash in round three of the 2023 NAB AFLW Season

    AFLW
  • 05:54

    AFLW full post-match, R3: Saints

    Watch St Kilda's press conference after round three's match against Port Adelaide

    AFLW
  • 11:39

    AFLW Mini-Match: St Kilda v Port Adelaide

    Extended highlights of the Saints and Power clash in round 3 of the 2023 NAB AFLW Season

    AFLW

ST KILDA                   3.1    4.3    6.5     7.6 (48)
PORT ADELAIDE        2.1    3.3    5.6     8.8 (56)

GOALS
St Kilda: Guttridge 2, Lambert 2, Xenos, Wardlaw, Vesely
Port Adelaide: Saint 2, Ewings 2, Tahau 2, Boag, Phillips

BEST
St Kilda: Lambert, Smith, Guttridge, McDonald, Vesely
Port Adelaide: Dowrick, Phillips, Tahau, Ewings, Scholz

INJURIES
St Kilda: J'Noemi Anderson (head)
Port Adelaide: None

Crowd: 2,016 at RSEA Park