The Power seemed to have the game won after leading by 17 points at three-quarter time in the low-scoring affair, but the Eagles drew level late in the final term, with four unanswered goals.
Mark LeCras had a chance to snatch the lead with two minutes to play, but failed to register a score and a scrambled point to David Rodan at the other end was enough to secure the win, 8.13 (61) to 8.12 (60).
Brett Ebert and Cameron Hitchcock kicked two goals each for the Power, while elevated rookie Andrew Strijk booted three for the visitors.
With both Daniel Kerr and Matt Priddis out of the Eagles side, Kane Cornes was relieved of his tagging duties and relished the opportunity, picking up 38 possessions, while Matt Thomas (32 touches and six clearances) and Dom Cassisi (29 touches and six clearances) also found plenty of the ball.
The crowd of just 14,113 was the lowest ever for a Port Adelaide game at AAMI Stadium.
The Eagles, attempting to end a 12-year losing streak against the Power at the venue, made a spirited start but failed to capitalise on the scoreboard, kicking just five behinds in the opening term.
Majors to Brett Ebert and Jason Davenport, who was a late replacement for tall forward Daniel Stewart, prevented a goalless first quarter and gave the home side a nine-point break at quarter time.
The second quarter was equally uninspiring, with both sides struggling to hit their targets.
The number of skill errors bordered on the comical, but the Eagles were able to overcome poor field kicking to finally get on the scoreboard and reduce the margin to six points at half time.
Robbie Gray breathed life into the game with some welcom polish early in the third term, when he slotted his first and triggered a flurry of goals.
Strijk and Adam Selwood did their best to keep the Eagles in the game with goals into the swirly breeze, but majors to Hitchcock, Ebert and Justin Westhoff saw the Power edge further ahead at three-quarter time.
West Coast staged a comeback in the final term, with consecutive goals to Strijk, Josh Kennedy and Matt Rosa.
Luke Shuey levelled the scores with a goal in the dying minutes, but the Eagles couldn’t muster another score to snatch an unlikely win.
Port Adelaide 2.5 3.6 7.9 8.13 (61)
West Coast 0.4 2.6 4.10 8.12 (60)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Hitchcock 2, Ebert 2, Davenport, Gray, Westhoff, Schulz
West Coast: Strijk 3, Wilson, A. Selwood, Kennedy, Rosa, Shuey
BEST
Port Adelaide: K. Cornes, Cassisi, Westhoff, Chaplin, Carlile, Thomas, Boak
West Coast: Cox, S. Selwood, Strijk, A. Selwood, Rosa
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
West Coast: A. Selwood (shoulder), Sheppard (shoulder)
Reports: Koby Stevens (West Coast) reported by umpire Avon for rough conduct on Danny Meyer in the second quarter
Umpires: Grun, Dalgleish, Avon
Official crowd: 14,113 at AAMI Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.
