Port Adelaide has climbed into the top eight after a comeback win against the West Coast Eagles, overcoming a slow start to win by 13 points at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday.
The Power were late to the party after travelling west but flipped the game on its head after a scoreless first quarter to win 7.7 (49) to 5.6 (36) in an impressive performance built on pressure.
West Coast started the game strongly, with three first-quarter goals from Lauren Wakfer, Bella Lewis and Ella Roberts.
The Power went on to kick five unanswered goals either side of half-time to set up their third win of the season, and their first victory in three meetings with the Eagles.
Port midfielder Abbey Dowrick started the charge, turning the tide in the second quarter and finishing with eight clearances from 19 disposals, with forward Gemma Houghton also critical with two goals.
The visitors had to overcome another excellent performance from West Coast star Ella Roberts, who was outstanding to start the game and finished with a game-high 27 disposals, a career-high11 marks, and a goal.
She drove a brilliant opening term for the Eagles, who applied pressure and set up behind the ball to make sure the game was played in their half.
Roberts provided an early highlight in a dominant quarter when she laid a fend-off in defensive 50 and launched a coast-to-coast scoring chain, which also involved Mikayla Western bursting down the wing to drive the team inside the forward 50.
When Roberts took her fourth contested grab deep in the quarter and converted her set shot, the Eagles were 19 points clear, with the Power yet to score.
The match completed flipped in the second quarter as Port ramped up its own pressure and hit the scoreboard through former Fremantle forward Houghton, who converted a classy snap from the pocket.
When Zoe Wakfer gave away a 50m penalty for rolling the ball back to her opponent after a free kick, Wendland kicked her first goal and the Power were rolling, securing a one-point lead at half-time after keeping the Eagles scoreless.
Justine Mules-Robinson took back-to-back chances to start the third quarter in her 75th game, giving the Power a 14-point advantage before Abbygail Bushby held her nerve after the siren to cut the margin to eight at the last change.
It took just three minutes, however, for the Power to kick back-to-back goals at the start of the fourth, setting the Eagles a challenge they couldn't overcome despite such a promising start.
WEST COAST 3.1 3.1 4.3 5.6 (36)
PORT ADELAIDE 0.0 3.2 5.5 7.7 (49)
GOALS
West Coast: Bushby, Lewis, Roberts, Roux, Wakfer
Port Adelaide: Houghton 2, Mules-Robinson 2, Wendland 2, Saint
BEST
West Coast: Roberts, Lewis, Thomas, Western, Swanson
Port Adelaide: Dowrick, Scholz, Moloney, Houghton, Mules-Robinson
INJURIES
West Coast: Nil
Port Adelaide: Nil
Crowd: 2,470 at Mineral Resources Park
