GREATER Western Sydney has held on to win a thrilling one-point encounter against Port Adelaide in Heath Shaw's 300th game on Saturday night.

The Giants led the entire night but couldn't shake off a persistent Power side that was playing for its season, the visitors getting home 8.8 (56) to 7.13 (55) in front of a crowd of 27,591.

As was the case with last weekend's fast start against Collingwood, the Giants got on the board quickly with Jeremy Cameron slotting the game's opening goal after just 50 seconds.

Travis Boak handpasses the ball under pressure from Heath Shaw. Picture: AFL Photos

But from there it developed into a slugfest, with the Power staying close throughout a torrid first half to trail by six points – 4.6 (30) to 3.6 (24) – at the main break.

Goals in quick succession from Jeremy Finlayson and Harry Himmelberg, both from centre clearances, then gave the Giants a bit of breathing space.

Robbie Gray dragged the Power back into the contest with goals either side of the three-quarter-time break to narrow the margin to just four points.

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South Australian product Jackson Hately – the 14th overall pick in last year's NAB AFL Draft – celebrated his first senior game at Adelaide Oval with his first goal, holding his nerve to kick a clutch set shot to push the Giants out by nine points.

But the Power responded yet again, Connor Rozee turning on the jets before putting the ball in front of Dougal Howard, who showed a clean pair of heels to kick his second.

The Giants (11-7) were able to crawl across the finish line to move up to fifth on the ladder and keep pressure on the top four.

For the Power (8-10), it's their fourth loss from their past five games and leaves them a win and percentage behind eighth-placed Adelaide.

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Coleman Medal leader Cameron booted three goals to move to 57 goals for the season, while Finlayson also kicked three.

Midfielders Tim Taranto (31 disposals, 15 contested possessions), Jacob Hopper (30 and 14) and Toby Greene (30 and 13) were outstanding in the continued absence of stars Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly.

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Lachie Whitfield had 27 touches despite getting closely tagged by Cam Sutcliffe, while Sam Reid and Zac Williams had 24 each.

Shaw had 19 disposals, but had his hands full containing Robbie Gray, who got heavily involved in the second half to finish with three goals from 14 disposals.

The only downside for the Giants is they lost defender Sam Taylor with a leg injury in the second quarter.

Former Power skipper Travis Boak continued his brilliant season with a game-high 40 disposals and seven clearances, Tom Rockliff had 31 and Dan Houston had 28.

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Veteran swingman Justin Westhoff toiled hard playing as a key defender, but it was ultimately the Power's wastefulness in front of goals despite having 53 inside 50 entries to 44 that proved to be their downfall.

The Power also had more clearances (+6) and contested possessions (+3) than the Giants but couldn't get the result.

MEDICAL ROOM
Port Adelaide: Forward Robbie Gray came off the ground after being tackled strongly to the ground by Jeremy Cameron and Shane Mumford in quick succession. Gray returned to finish the game.

Greater Western Sydney: Defender Sam Taylor came off with a leg injury in the second quarter and didn't play the rest of the game. Midfielder Jacob Hopper came from the ground in the third term after a collision with teammate Jackson Hately but finished the game.

NEXT UP
The Power face another top-eight opponent when they take on Essendon at Marvel Stadium next Saturday. The Bombers have won the past three meetings. Meanwhile, the Giants will be aiming to continue clawing back their overall deficit against cross-town rivals Sydney when they host the Sydney Derby at Giants Stadium next Saturday. The Giants have won the past two encounters, but trail 6-11 in 17 matches.

PORT ADELAIDE         0.3       3.6       5.9       7.13 (55)
GWS GIANTS              2.5       4.6       7.7       8.8 (56)

GOALS
Port Adelaide: R.Gray 3, Howard 2, S.Gray, Rozee
GWS Giants: Cameron 3, Finlayson 3, Himmelberg, Hately

BEST 
Port Adelaide: Boak, R.Gray, Rockliff, Westhoff, Houston, Bonner
GWS Giants: Greene, Taranto, Davis, Cameron, Finlayson, Hopper

INJURIES 
Port Adelaide: Nil
GWS Giants: Sam Taylor (leg). Adam Kennedy (heart) replaced in the selected side by Lachlan Keefe 

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Fisher, Deboy, Ryan

Official crowd: 27,591 at Adelaide Oval