Port Adelaide have secured a thrilling two-point win over Melbourne to surge into second on the AFL ladder, ending the Demons’ slim finals hopes.
The Demons led Saturday night’s contest for 66 minutes, but were forced to endure heartbreak with their third loss by five points or less in the last seven weeks.
Former No.1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis stepped up when the Power needed him in the last quarter as Port won the dour contest 7.11 (53) to 7.9 (51).
Horne-Francis had nine possessions in the last quarter to finish with 27 and two goals, continually putting himself in the right positions to thwart any chance of another Melbourne goal.
Quinton Narkle, who was subbed into the game for tall forward Todd Marshall at halftime, slotted the match-winning goal with just four minutes left.
It was sweet relief for Port and coach Ken Hinkley, just a week after they demolished ladder-leaders Sydney by 112 points.
Since they were embarrassed by the Brisbane Lions at the Adelaide Oval by 79 points, the Power have won six of their last seven games.
After the Lions’ defeat to GWS earlier on Saturday, Port jumped up three spots to put them within reach of a double chance and a home final.
"It's really important from a resilience point of view, but more importantly for us in the season that's so tight, that's going to make the difference between qualifying higher or lower," Hinkley said.
"Maybe once we may have been out of the (top) eight but I think we've actually been pretty consistent through the year.
"It's been a pretty tough season for every team this year, every team has had times where it hasn't been perfect."
Port ruckman Jordon Sweet will face a nervous wait to learn if he will be cited by the match review officer after he appeared to strike Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver in the chest.
Oliver, who had little impact on the contest, was assessed by trainers and Demons players remonstrated with Sweet.
Melbourne livewire Kysaiah Pickett had one of the best games of his career, threatening to overshadow Horne-Francis' heroics.
Pickett kicked a game-high four goals, had 21 possessions and eight score involvements to be clearly Melbourne's most influential player.
The Demons will almost certainly end the round with their slim finals hopes extinguished ahead of their last two games against Gold Coast (away) and Collingwood (MCG).
"It's difficult. I think it's four for the year," Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said of the close losses.
"They're the small margins you talk about between sitting where we sit and playing finals footy. And we have an expectation to play finals footy. T
"That's where we want to see ourselves.
"When you're losing close games,, you put yourself under enormous pressure, and you don't achieve what you want to achieve."
