PORT Adelaide has punctured Greater Western Sydney's finals aspirations with a plucky 21-point victory in a spiteful Saturday stoush.
Five talking points: Port Adelaide v Greater Western Sydney
He bounced once, got to the edge of the goal square, then horribly fluffed another bounce attempt - the ball spilled, allowing Port's Matthew White to gather ground and apply a score-saving tackle.
Palmer provides goals, scuffles and blunders
In a fiery affair, Port's Jasper Pittard will be scrutinised for a block some 50 metres off the ball which felled Palmer in the second quarter.
And at the half-time siren, with Port leading by 10 points and Giant co-captain Phil Davis already substituted with a thigh injury, both teams engaged in a prolonged push and shove.
The heightened aggression was in response to a call from Ken Hinkley to "play tough".
“We felt last week we weren't at that standard," star midfielder Robbie Gray said after the game.
"It was pretty disappointing, so we had a big focus on the contested side of the game and bringing a bit of physicality, and I think that went a long way to us winning the game."
Hinkley recognised the players' response to his demand for more aggression.
"They challenged us and we haven't been able to respond to that challenge for most of the year and tonight we stood up really well."
Tempers continue to flare in this one. @PAFC are clinging to a two-point lead. http://t.co/Ct2sxbVPQ8
— AFL (@AFL) August 15, 2015
But the Power, who have kept themselves a ‘mathematical chance’ for finals, kicked five goals to one in the final term to notch a ninth win of the season.
The Giants (10 wins) have home games against Sydney and Carlton before an away match against Melbourne to come, and coach Leon Cameron knows there is no chance to drop a game from here.
Chad Wingard is on fire! #AFLPowerGiants http://t.co/20mG6rFghd
— AFL (@AFL) August 15, 2015
PORT ADELAIDE 5.5 9.10 11.13 16.15 (111)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 3.6 8.6 12.9 13.11 (90)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Ah Chee, Wingard, Monfries 3, Westhoff 2, Neade, R Gray, Ebert, Butcher, Hartlett
Greater Western Sydney: Palmer 5, Cameron 3, Lobb, Patton, Shaw, Williams, McCarthy
BEST
Port Adelaide: Ah Chee, R Gray, Ryder, Boak, Hartlett, Impey
Greater Western Sydney: Griffen, Palmer, Ward, Williams, Greene, Corr
INJURIES
Port Adelaide:
Greater Western Sydney: Davis (thigh)
SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Nathan Krakouer replaced Matt White at three-quarter time
Greater Western Sydney: Jack Steele replaced Phil Davis in the second quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Farmer, Bannister, Stephens
Official crowd: 33,281 at Port Adelaide Oval