Houston's rocket! Port pulls off 'greatest of escapes' as 'Superman ...

Port Adelaide has produced a miracle at the MCG, with Dan Houston kicking a ridiculous, long-range match-winner after the siren to steal a four-point win over Essendon

The 11.12 (78) to 10.14 (74) victory ensures the Power’s remarkable winning streak rolls on to 12 this season.

The Power had looked almost home with a 17-point lead late in the fourth term before the Bombers came charging back at the MCG.

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When Jye Caldwell put his side in front with 1.40 left on the clock, it was Port Adelaide who needed to pull something out.

And Houston stood tall, marking with just 17 seconds remaining to calmly go back after the siren to nail the winning shot from outside the arc – which carried the line by just centimetres.

“The greatest of escapes!” commentator Alister Nicholson said.

“Port Adelaide have pulled off a miracle.”

The loss will be a tough one for the Bombers to swallow after inaccuracy cruelled their dominance in the second and third terms as they now cling to eighth spot on the ladder.

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER MATCH REPORT

The Power made a late change, with first-round draftee Josh Sinn replaced in the selected side by recent mid-season draft acquisition Quinton Narkle and Jase Burgoyne named the sub.

But the visitors were then hit by another late blow with ruckman Scott Lycett failing a fitness test just minutes before the opening bounce.

Vision showed Lycett trying to jump into the padded bag but struggling moments before the teams ran out.

After a consultation with medical staff, the decision was made to replace Lycett with 202cm debutant Dante Visentini.

“A little bit unexpected and it’s thrown Port Adelaide out a little bit,” commentator Campbell Brown said.

“That is a big late story in this game – Scott Lycett has been in great form,” Luke Darcy added.

“He failed a late fitness test – he did the warm up and couldn’t get through.”

Essendon made no late changes, with star midfielder Dylan Shiel named as the sub for his first game since Round 12.

Port star Connor Rozee had the opening goal of the contest after a lengthy score review to determine if Bomber Mason Redman got a boot to the footy before it crossed the line.

Down the other end, it was Jayden Laverde from outside 50 who got Essendon on the board.

Charlie Dixon couldn’t make Essendon pay when Darcy Parish coughed up the footy with a horror turnover at half back.

“Essendon are giving the ball back to them in really bad spots,” former Bomber Jobe Watson said in commentary.

“It’s an onslaught,” Darcy added of the Power’s front half pressure.

When Ollie Wines was caught holding the ball, Matt Guelfi added his side’s second “against the run of play”.

“After all the domination at the other end of the ground, the Bombers have been able to kick that one and get it back within six points,” Darcy said.

“It was a ruthless burst early from Port Adelaide but they peppered away wasted opportunities,” Alister Nicholson added.

For the second time of the night, the Power blew six points when they failed to get the footy over the Essendon gate keeper on the goal line.

At quarter time it was Port Adelaide with a five-point lead, 19-14.

The Bombers took the lead early in the second as Kyle Langford cashed in on a Port turnover exiting defence.

It was “too easy” for Bomber Nic Martin to find space inside forward 50 as he marked uncontested to added Essendon’s fourth for the night.

But Connor Rozee stepped up when his side needed him, slotting a goal from the tight angle to reclaim the lead for the Power.

Quinton Narkle added a goal for his new club, after joining the Power mid-season, and suddenly it was Port Adelaide with some breathing space.

The intensity ramped up from both sides as the game tightened late in the half.

By half time, it was Port Adelaide holding a 38-32 lead.

It took 90 seconds for Matt Guelfi to level scores in the third.

When the Power struggled to clear once again from their back half, Kyle Langford was left on his own and put his side back in front.

“Port Adelaide just hanging on at the moment,” Darcy said.

“The game has just gotten away from them,” Watson added.

Dixon’s tough night in front of goal rolled on as he failed to make the distance for a second time – this time from just 35m.

It took a moment of courage from Zak Butters to get the Power back level, as he opted to take the game on before getting tackled high by Bomber Andy McGrath.

Jake Stringer had the immediate reply moments later with the eighth lead change for the night.

As the rain come driving down, the Bombers edged further in front point by point.

By three quarter time, it was Essendon up 54-45.

But the fourth term belonged to Port Adelaide as Finlayson found his range from outside 50 to spark his side.

Ryan Burton put the Power in front before Connor Rozee and Darcy Byrne-Jones ensured Port opened up their biggest lead of the match.

When Mason Redman was caught cold holding the ball, Port Adelaide had turned the tables and looked in complete control at the MCG.

“You don’t win 11 games in a row by being lucky or by accident. Port have raised the intensity in this last quarter,” Watson said.

“Game on the line, Marshall with a great run down tackle … they’ve kept working, kept grinding.”

The Bombers refused to give in as they fought back with three straight goals – including Jye Caldwell’s to put them in front with 1.40 left on the clock.

But the Power pulled out a miracle escape when Dan Houston marked with 17 seconds to go and went back from outside 50 and nailed the goal, sparking jubilant scenes.

THE 3-2-1...

3. HOUSTON THE HERO AS POWER STEAL MIRACLE VICTORY

Dan Houston wanted to own the moment.

When he marked it on the arc with just 17 seconds to go, the Power star took it upon himself to stand tall and deliver – and that’s what he did.

Houston’s match winner sailed through from outside 50 – albeit by just a matter of centimetres.

Asked if he thought he had the distance covered before taking the kick, Houston told Channel 7 post-game: “I didn’t actually, but I was like if I was going to miss, at least I’d have a crack.

“I put my boot through it. Trent McKenzie told me if I missed it he’d still love me, which meant a bit. It was a good way to finish the night.

“I think the wet ball helped it sail through, but it was a good win by the boys.

“We stick together in tough moments, the bounce of the ball went our way tonight.”

Commentator Alister Nicholson couldn’t believe what he had witnessed.

“Port Adelaide has pulled off a miracle and they come from all corners of the ground to get around the hero,” he said.

“The moment (Houston) took the mark, he went back with intent. He wanted to own the moment.

“That is one of the more extraordinary finishes to a game I’ve witnessed and it leaves your head spinning.”

Fox Footy’s Ben Dixon was left in awe.

“That was incredible ... In wet weather, 50m out - he’s Superman! Houston, what a finish.”

Houston becomes the 57th player to kick a goal after the siren to win a game.

He wasn’t alone as Port’s hero on Saturday with young Connor Rozee stepping up to the plate with three goals – including a crucial one in the final term.

Despite a slow start against the Bombers with just four touches to his name at quarter time, the 23-year-old had the opening goal of the match from a brilliant soccer.

His second of the night was a lovely set shot from the tight angle midway through the second term to give Port Adelaide the lead once again.

His third goal came with the match on the line in the final term when his side desperately needed someone to stand tall.

“He got the first one of the game – Eddie, you jumped off the couch when you saw it, you knew it was home,” Fox Footy’s Brad Johnson said.

“It’s his power – he’s leading the way through the midfield. He’s spending some time forward as well.

“He’s the one in their midfield who has shown the most composure.”

Ben Dixon said he enjoyed watching the way Rozee went about his footy.

“The way he can get through traffic and see it. The game stops around him,” he praised.

“That’s the best part.”

Eddie Betts praised how clean Rozee is with the ball when he gets it.

“It gives him that time to get out of traffic and use it. Find the right option,” he said.

Rozee finished his night with 23 touches, nine tackles, three clearances and the three goals.

2. INACCURACY HURTS ESSENDON’S CHARGE AS WIN GOES BEGGING

The Bombers were close enough if good enough on Saturday night.

Up by nine points at the final change, Essendon suddenly found themselves staring down a 17-point deficit midway through the last quarter as Port’s intensity lifted and they didn’t match them.

Despite the late fightback, which saw Essendon take the lead with 1.40 on the clock, the Bombers could not hold on.

And now they cling to eighth spot on the ladder as a result of their heartbreaking MCG defeat.

“They got what they deserved (not going through the corridor in the first half),” Fox Footy’s Ben Dixon said.

“They didn’t get any access to their forwards.

“All you have to do against Port is keep the ball moving no matter what.”

Even when the Bombers were on top in the second and third terms, they couldn’t put Port Adelaide away with wayward goal kicking.

“You’ve got to make them pay,” Brad Johnson lamented on Fox Footy.

Darcy Parish was the worst offender with four behinds for the match – including his miss with just 65 seconds left on the clock that gave Port possession.

And from there, they went into attack and Dan Houston did the rest.

Six Bombers players did get back on the goalline for that Houston shot on goal, but they couldn’t stop the Power matchwinner.

Bombers fans were left devastated in the stands, with many left with their heads in their hands.

1. MAD SCRAMBLE SEES ROOKIE DEBUT WITHOUT FAMILY IN THE STANDS

Port Adelaide suffered a big blow minutes out from the first bounce when ruckman Scott Lycett failed his fitness test.

Lycett had run out with his side at the MCG on Saturday night.

But vision showed Lycett attempting to jump in front of concerned medical staff before the late call was made to pull him from the contest due to a knee issue.

That left rookie Dante Visentini to suit up late – so late he missed the start of the contest as he wasn’t strapped.

Jeremy Finlayson headed in to contest the first ruck contest, as Visentini’s family also had to race to the MCG to see the youngster’s first game.

The family of the former Brighton Beach junior were caught completely off guard by the stunning call to hand him his first game, with parents Paul and Ange receiving the news just before the bounce and dropping their plans for the evening for a frantic commute to the MCG.

The circumstances would have been bittersweet for Visentini, who would have had a much larger contingent of friends and family in attendance if a debut at the ‘G had come with more notice.

“It’s not a bad way to do it rather than find out on Tuesday and have five sleepless nights,” commentator Daisy Pearce laughed.

It took almost 10 minutes into the first term before Visentini came onto the ground as he had to warm up alongside the bench.

While the youngster was solid in his debut, Pearce and commentator Jobe Watson were critical of how Lycett’s absence “unbalanced” the Power’s attack end.

“The flow-on effect of no Lycett is players like (Charlie) Dixon and Finlayson are having to spend extended time in the ruck,” Pearce explained.

“Visentini has been on the bench for over 13 minutes now (in the third term) – they don’t have that representation ahead of the ball.

“Last time the two sides played, (Todd) Marshall and Dixon had nine shots between them.

“Not a criticism of Visentini, it’s about what you can expect from a ruck on debut. Just the difference between a seasoned experienced veteran who can spend long periods of time out there competing.”

Watson said it was the “flow on effect” of having to use Dixon or Finlayson as the ruck that was unbalancing the Power.

“It’s moreso the structure and the flow on effect – Finlayson isn’t your third forward. Marshall has to be the second forward, or Dixon has to go up and play in the ruck,” he said.

“It just unbalances how you’re working and the continuity of personnel that has been so important to Port Adelaide.”

Visentini was subbed out of the wet contest at three quarter to finish his debut with four handballs, two hitouts and a tackle.

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