On a perfect day, running away from goal and kicking from the forward pocket with your wrong foot is tricky. That this game was played in a torrential downpour with a slippery ball and surface, and the Suns' game and season being on the line, made Harley Bennell's late major even more special. The Power seemed to be cruising to victory at 14 points up in the last quarter before a rare Daniel Gorringe goal gave the Suns a sniff. Then Bennell's moment of magic put the Suns within three points before Chad Wingard kicked the sealer.

Last year's victory for the Power at Metricon Stadium was an early indicator that they were a real finals contender and it was Hartlett who helped inspire the win with a 29-disposal, three-goal performance. So the Suns should have been warned on Saturday, but with the hosts shadowing Travis Boak, Robbie Gray and Jared Polec closely, Hartlett was allowed to run amok leading the disposal count for most of the game (ending with 24) and kicking a crucial snap in the third quarter. Port will desperately hope that the injury forcing him to limp off in the closing stages is not serious. 

They might as well have put a soccer net at the Nerang-Broadbeach Road end of Metricon Stadium. Ollie Wines crossed the ball along the deck for Justin Westhoff to expertly glance it between the posts with his left foot for Port's first goal. Then in the second quarter, Tom Lynch emulated him with a soccer of his own after substitute Louis Herbert slid the ball across the goal square allowing the big man converted at the far post and another strike that wouldn't have looked out of place a few hours later on the opening day of the English Premier League.

For much of the game Ken Hinckley would have been tearing out what little hair he has left as his side enjoyed almost double the inside 50s (72 to 39) but still had kicked a goal less than the Suns going into the fourth quarter. The big wet in Queensland was obviously an excuse on this occasion but poor delivery in and around the 50 has blighted the second half of the Power's season and is something they will need to improve if they are to have a chance of a top-four finish or doing any damage in the finals.

 

Port Adelaide's bad news came before the game with key duo Jackson Trengrove (ankle) and Angus Monfries ruled out, but it was the Suns who had to alter their plans in-running. First Charlie Dixon went down seemingly reinjuring his quad, before Jack Martin suffered a leg injury and Danny Stanley was forced off with a shoulder problem. This was in addition to Greg Broughton being withdrawn before the match with an elbow injury. Already down to the bare bones of their squad, Guy McKenna's squad's chances of winning against Essendon and West Coast seem remote.