PORT Adelaide has edged Sydney by 10 points to climb into the AFL’s top four while star Swan Lance Franklin is on report.
The Power triumphed 12.9 (81) to 10.11 (71) on a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval on Saturday to pinch fourth spot from Geelong.
Sydney slips a rung to seventh with champion forward Franklin reported for rough contact on Port’s Jarrod Lienert in the first term.
But the charge appeared trivial: Lienert, scooping up a ground ball, was bent over when his head made contact with the left hip of the standing Franklin.
Franklin booted four goals, taking his career tally to 973 – surpassing Jack Titus as the sixth-highest goalscorer in VFL/AFL history.
And the 34-year-old megastar revived the Swans with a stirring last quarter when they appeared down and out.
Port led by 15 points at three-quarter time, a seemingly safe margin in the wet.
But Franklin then booted three goals in a stunning 15-minute burst to put his side four points up with seven minutes remaining.
Port’s medical substitute Sam Mayes, who only came on minutes earlier when Trent McKenzie suffered a collarbone injury, then became a hometown hero.
With four minutes left, Mayes dribbled a goal to restore Port’s lead and, with two minutes left, ruckman Scott Lycett iced the win with a classy major from a tight angle.
Port’s vice-captain Ollie Wines (29 disposals) was again a force along with ex-skipper Travis Boak (30 touches, one goal).
And forwards Charlie Dixon (19 possessions) and Todd Marshall both kicked two goals.
The Swans scored five of their 10 goals in the opening term and were superbly served throughout by Callum Mills, whose 30 disposals featured 10 clearances and nine inside 50s.
Mills’ fellow midfielder Luke Parker gathered a game-high 34 touches and kicked a goal while Will Hayward and Tom Papley booted two majors each.
(C) AAP 2021
PORT ADELAIDE 4.3 7.4 10.6 12.9 (81)
SYDNEY 5.3 6.6 7.9 10.11 (71)
Goals: Port Adelaide: C Dixon 2 T Marshall 2 C Rozee D Houston K Farrell M Bergman S Lycett S Mayes S Powell-Pepper T Boak. Sydney: L Franklin 4 T Papley 2 W Hayward 2 E Gulden L Parker.
Umpires: Dean Margetts, Leigh Haussen, Nick Brown.
Official Crowd: 29,631 at Adelaide Oval.
