Port Adelaide have moved a game clear on top of the AFL ladder with a 17-point win over Greater Western Sydney on Sunday.
The Power, who suffered their first loss of the season against Brisbane last weekend, outran a determined Giants at Metricon Stadium to secure a 9.9 (63) to 6.10 (46) win.
In a match which was largely scrappy, it was a moment of pure quality by Kane Farrell that broke the game apart.
The two teams had been trading leads in the final term when Farrell’s 55m drop punt on the run, broke the Giants’ resistance.
Farrell was one of nine separate single goalkickers for the Power, including key forward Charlie Dixon, whose contested mark and goal after the third-quarter siren was another key moment for Ken Hinkley’s team.
The Giants did well to keep themselves in the contest after struggling to trouble the scoreboard in the opening half.
Toby Greene, playing his 150th match, kicked GWS’s first goal of the match in the eighth minute of the second term.
The Giants came out with greater intent in the third term and hit the front when Lachie Whitfield finished after a great pass inside 50 from Jeremy Cameron.
Cameron was the only multiple goalkicker of the match, kicking two majors for the Giants.
Whitfield had a game-high 25 disposals while Sam Powell-Pepper and Dan Houston had 22 touches each for the Power.
Port were almost held goalless in the third term but were able to get their noses in front at the final change thanks to Dixon’s only major.
Power veteran Brad Ebert was placed on report for a first quarter hip and shoulder on Harry Perryman despite the Giants’ midfielder getting straight up after the contact.
The Power also lost Cameron Sutcliffe just before the main break due to a hamstring injury, leaving them down a man for the second half.
The Giants played a man down for the second half as well with Daniel Lloyd suffering a delayed concussion following a first-quarter head clash with Cameron which left blood streaming from the GWS key forward’s nose.
The Power are back in Queensland next weekend against Carlton at the Gabba while the Giants host Brisbane in Sydney.
