PADDY Ryder has had the last laugh over Essendon, inspiring Port Adelaide to a 13-point win over his former side, and keeping the Power's slim finals hopes alive.

With its season on the line Port, led by Ryder, rallied in the final term to win 20.9 (129) to the Bombers' 17.14 (116). 

Ryder kicked four goals, including three crucial majors in a tense final quarter to drag his team over the line.

The win, the Power's first against Essendon since 2010, was in front of a crowd of 23,705 at Etihad Stadium, the Bombers' lowest ever home crowd at the venue. 

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Ken Hinkley's side is now 7-9, just two wins outside of the top eight, while the Bombers have slumped to their seventh loss in eight games.

Power skipper Travis Boak was incredible from the first bounce and finished with 28 disposals and three tackles.

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Ollie Wines and Robbie Gray had 16 clearances between them thanks to the brilliant ruck work from Matthew Lobbe, who had 46 hit-outs.

The Power's inconsistencies have cost them so far this season but Hinkley said his side was slowly returning to the style of football that got them to a preliminary final last year.

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"We've still got lots and lots of things to work on, but our last month has been pretty competitive but some of the stuff we've done at times has hurt us badly," he said. 

"I'm really pleased for the boys. They've stuck pretty tough and it's been a pretty hard time for the footy club.

"They've never let me down once." 

Brendon Goddard was outstanding for the Bombers with 31 disposals, but it was the game of some of Essendon's more inexperienced players that was most impressive. 

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In just his 10th game Nick O'Brien had 32 possessions and seven clearances, while draftees Kyle Langford and Jayden Laverde showed plenty of promise, with both kicking a pair of goals. 

Drafted at pick No.17 last year, Langford had 14 touches, while Laverde (pick No.20) had five tackles, four marks and 10 disposals.

"Our young kids were exciting and our senior guys certainly encouraged the younger guys and played their role," Essendon coach James Hird said after the loss.

"I thought Goddard, [Brent] Stanton, [Michael] Hurley, the guys who have been around the club for a while, are leading really well and that allows the younger players with their energy and enthusiasm to play exciting football. 

"I'm not sure if it was our best football because defensively we got scored heavily against, but certainly it was exciting to see the way they played. They played free football and we scored quite heavily."

The Bombers started the game strongly kicking three of the first four goals, their quick ball movement catching the Power unaware. 

But as the quarter wore on, Port Adelaide began to gain ascendency at the stoppages, with Lobbe dominating in the ruck early with 13 hit-outs to McKernan's five.

Essendon was quick to add to its 10-point lead at quarter-time, defender Michael Hurley kicking the opening goal of the second term after a poor turnover from Andrew Moore.

But the Power soon got into gear, kicking six of the next seven goals to steal a 14-point advantage late in the second quarter.

Goalsneak Jake Neade had the highlight of the quarter, sidestepping several Bombers to snap a brilliant goal, after crumbing the ball from Chad Wingard's spectacular leap over Michael Hibberd. 

The Bombers had the chance to regain the lead at half-time, but were yet again wasteful in front of goal, kicking five behinds in the final six minutes of the quarter to head into the main break eight points down.

In his first game against his former side since being traded to the Power, Ryder was met with relentless boos from the red and black faithful and it seemed to unnerve him in the first half. 

But with the game tied at three-quarter time, Ryder came out firing, kicking the opening two goals of the final term to give Port Adelaide a 13-point lead.

The Dons surged again but a contested mark to Ryder and a truly-struck set shot settled Port's nerves, before Jay Schulz finished the contest with another goal minutes later.

ESSENDON             6.1   8.9   12.12   17.14 (116)
PORT ADELAIDE    4.3   10.5  13.6   20.9 (129)

GOALS
Essendon: Hooker 3, Laverde 2, Langford 2, Daniher 2, Heppell, J Merrett, Goddard, Hurley, Z Merrett, Zaharakis, Browne, Edwards
Port Adelaide: Ryder 4, Schulz 3, Wingard 3, Neade 2, Boak 2, Ebert, Boak, Westhoff, Lobbe, Gray, Moore, White

BEST 
Essendon: O'Brien, Goddard, Stanton, Zaharakis, Heppell, Z Merrett, Browne
Port Adelaide: Boak, Ryder, Wines, Wingard, Gray, Lobbe 

INJURIES 
Essendon: Howlett (left knee)
Port Adelaide: Nil 

SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Shaun Edwards replaced Ben Howlett in the third quarter
Port Adelaide: Aaron Young replaced Angus Monfries at three-quarter time

Reports: Nil 

Umpires: Brown, Nicholls, Ryan

Official crowd: 23,705 at Etihad Stadium

Paddy Ryder exits Etihad Stadium after leading the Power to a crucial win. Picture: AFL Media