Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has hailed his side's resilience after a tough 10-point win over Richmond in an AFL slugfest.
Zak Butters, Connor Rozee and Jason Horne-Francis all shone in the Power's 10.17 (77) to 9.13 (67) victory, denying the Tigers in their first outing since Damien Hardwick's shock resignation.
Key defenders Aliir Aliir and Trent McKenzie were also important contributors as Port (9-2) extended their winning streak to eight matches and further entrenched themselves in the top four.
Six of those victories have been by margins of 14 points or less and Sunday's MCG triumph was the South Australian outfit's fourth straight interstate win since a trouncing from Collingwood in round two.
It came despite a 25-point quarter-time lead being cut back to two points early in the final term and with wet weather playing a role in Port being unable to translate their territorial dominance on the scoreboard.
"It was challenging conditions that suited Richmond's surge-ball game and we had to be prepared to go the whole way, so it was a really pleasing victory," Hinkley said.
"We had a lot of ball in our front half and yeah, they had a great second quarter, but we stuck to task.
"This team's been remarkable resilient this year and we've been able to get through a lot of challenges."
Butters (32 disposals, four clearances, one goal), Rozee (27 disposals, six clearances) and Horne-Francis (23 disposals, one goal) helped Port gain midfield ascendancy despite the best efforts of Tim Taranto.
Richmond's prime on-baller bucked the trend of inaccuracy in front of goal and was a McKenzie fingernail away from booting five majors, but had to settle for 4.1 to go with game-high tallies of 33 disposals and seven clearances.
Dustin Martin (two) was the only other multiple goal-kicker.
Dion Prestia (29 disposals, five clearances) fought hard for the Tigers, while Toby Nankervis was involved in a tough ruck battle with Power big man Scott Lycett.
Richmond caretaker coach Andrew McQualter used Hardwick as motivation for his players pre-match, urging them to pay tribute to the three-time premiership mentor.
"We spoke about honouring Dimma and what he's given the club for a long period of time," McQualter said.
"The players love him, so there's a reason why we did that.
"'We didn't play our best game of footy but the fight they showed was huge. They never gave up."
Despite that effort, a second straight loss leaves Richmond's (3-7-1) finals hopes in tatters ahead of an away clash with GWS in round 12.
Port Adelaide will be hot favourites to continue their winning streak at home to Hawthorn.
