Pretenders no more as Power takes top scalp

PORT Adelaide has shrugged off its pretenders tag, jumping into the top four after taking its first top-eight scalp of the season.

The Power prevailed over West Coast by 32 points at Domain Stadium yesterday, after a riveting contest punctuated by huge swings in momentum.

Port eased home despite conceding seven consecutive goals in the first half, finishing full of running as it amassed 37 inside 50s to 14 after halftime.

It was a devastating loss for the Eagles, whose home fortress is now crumbling after their third loss from their past four matches at Subiaco.

West Coast has slipped to ninth after beginning the round in seventh place.

Charlie Dixon kicked five goals for the Power, including four in the second half.

Paddy Ryder, Justin Westhoff and Brad Ebert were also superb for the Power as they recorded arguably the most significant win of their season.

The Eagles had staged a remarkable turnaround to lead at halftime, after Port had kicked the first four goals of the match to open up a 23point lead just 12 minutes in.

Forward Jeremy McGovern was thrown into defence as a loose man as part of Adam Simpson’s plan to stem the damage, however it was a big lift in the midfield that helped the home side turn it around.

The Eagles kicked the next seven goals of the game, with McGovern moving back forward to start the second term.

In the continued absence of Kennedy, it was two maligned forwards who stood up to get the Eagles back into the contest. Jack Darling and Mark LeCras each kicked three goals for the half to finish with four apiece, with LeCras getting his first goal since the last time the Eagles played the Power in Round 7.

The Eagles had turned a 23point deficit into a four-goal lead entering time-on of the second quarter, before Ryder and skipper Travis Boak kicked majors to give the Power a lifeline.

Port Adelaide continued to come in the third term, with Chad Wingard instrumental as the visitors managed four goals to three for the quarter.

The Power kicked four of the first five goals of the final term to seal the result, with Robbie Gray kicking two of his three in the last stanza.

Port’s Rising Star contender Sam Powell-Pepper suffered a right shoulder injury in the second term as he buried Elliot Yeo into the turf with a typically ferocious tackle.

The 19-year-old returned in the second half with the joint strapped.