A BRAVE Port Adelaide has just fallen short of pulling off its best win of the season, eventually being overrun as St Kilda flew home to win by eight points at Telstra Dome.

The Power led by 13 points at the last change but they simply ran out of legs, with the Saints storming home to snatch the four points 14.17 (101) to 14.9 (93).

Port Adelaide always looked undermanned with a host of senior stars out through injury, including skipper Warren Tredrea, but the visitors led for the large majority of the match.

In fact it looked as though Mark Williams’ side might snatch a memorable win until the Saints grabbed the ascendancy in the final term.

Luke Ball, who went off in the final minutes with what appeared to be a hamstring or thigh injury, inched his team closer with the first of the final term before Travis Boak restored the Power’s advantage.

But Port Adelaide seemed to be treading water.

St Kilda was making all the running, and with goals to Adam Schneider, Justin Koschitzke and then Nick Riewoldt – after a big pack mark running with the flight of the ball – the Saints were soon in front.

Jason Gram sealed the match with three minutes remaining when he slammed through his second.

While the loss continued a disappointing season for the Power, coach Mark Williams learned that there is plenty to look forward to in coming years at Alberton after several youngsters showed their worth.

First-gamer Nick Salter showed his raking right foot is worth persisting with, youngster Mitch Farmer’s aggression would have been noted while Boak continues to blossom.

Older stagers Kane Cornes, Dean Brogan and Dom Cassisi also impressed in the narrow loss.

Neither Port Adelaide or St Kilda went into the match in great form after suffering disappointing losses a week earlier but the Saints – still fighting for a top-eight berth – had far more at stake.

However the Power showed from the outset that it hadn’t come to Telstra Dome to simply lie down by jumping out of the blocks with the first two goals of the game.

Brett Ebert swooped on a loose ball in the fourth minute to get his team going, and when Daniel Motlop’s snap bounced over heads to find an unmarked Greg Bentley in the goal square, Port Adelaide fans started thinking of an unlikely win.

St Kilda started to look better in the second term but still couldn’t shake the persistent Power.

Riewoldt’s athleticism threatened to get the better of Alipate Carlile as the Saints skipper booted his second but it was the competition’s oldest player – Robert Harvey – who was really inspiring the home side.

Cornes, meanwhile, was his usual prolific self for Port Adelaide as the visitors sensed an upset.

At the main break the Power led by four points and Williams’ side looked capable of derailing the Saints’ finals hopes.

Three goals to Justin Westhoff in the third quarter helped the visitors lead by as much as 21 points at one stage, however the Saints booted a goal with less than two minutes remaining to cut the deficit to just 13 points and the game was still up for grabs.

Both sides had casualties with a brave Nick Lower paying the price for his courage, while a groggy Harvey came off second best in a tackle and was forced to the bench.

The Saints had a spot in the eight – and possibly their season – on the line in the final term and Port Adelaide knew the home team would come hard in the final 30 minutes.

They did, and Port Adelaide wasn’t able to hold off St Kilda’s spirited challenge.

Next week Port Adelaide returns to Telstra Dome for a meeting with Carlton.

St Kilda                      4.1   7.5   9.10    14.17  (101)
Port Adelaide             4.1   8.3   12.5    14.9  (93)

GOALS
St Kilda: Riewoldt 3 Fiora 2 Gram 2 Gwilt 2 Ball Harvey Koschitzke Milne Schneider
Port Adelaide: Westhoff 3 Motlop 2 Salter 2 Bentley Boak Brogan Burgoyne Ebert Rodan Surjan

BEST
St Kilda:  Gram, Montagna, Ball, Fisher, Dal Santo, Harvey
Port Adelaide: Cornes, Brogan, Boak, Cassisi, Stewart, Carlile

INJURIES
St Kilda: Ball (corked leg), Harvey (concussion)
Port Adelaide: Salter (concussion)

Umpires: Vozzo, Head, Keating

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the clubs or the AFL.