Match report: After-the-siren goal hands Port 12th straight

1 Jul 2023

Port Adelaide Football Club

DAN Houston has launched a 55-metre goal after the siren to earn Port Adelaide a thrilling four-point victory after Essendon had stormed into the lead after being 17 points down with seven minutes left at the MCG on Saturday night.

Houston marked just inside the 50m line from Nic Martin's hurried clearance with 18 seconds left on the clock, before converting the long-range set shot beyond a pack of players on the goal line to secure the 11.12(78) to 10.14(74) victory and extend the Power's winning streak to 12 games.

The Power had turned a nine-point three-quarter time deficit into a game-high 17-point lead at the 20-minute mark of the last term, after four unanswered goals from Jeremy Finlayson, Ryan Burton, Connor Rozee and Darcy Byrne-Jones.

But the Bombers responded in dramatic fashion in the final seven minutes to hit the front, with two goals from Jye Caldwell alongside Kyle Langford's third major of the night. Caldwell's second from a 35m set shot had put the Dons up with 1:23 left, but that merely set the stage for Houston's intervention.

That goal put an exclamation mark on a thrilling contest on a rainy evening at the MCG where there were eight lead changes, the ultimate one capping Houston's exceptional display with 32 disposals and a game-high 15 contested possessions and seven marks.

Connor Rozee finished with three goals and 23 disposals, while Zak Butters put on another masterclass with 25 touches, including eight score involvements. Kane Farrell was impactful with a joint game-high 13 intercept possessions and outright game-high 10 score involvements.

It was cruel on a brave Essendon side who showed resolve to rally late and had earlier withstood Port's first-term dominance with strong performances from captain Zach Merrett (31 disposals), Darcy Parish (29 disposals) and Caldwell (29 disposals and two goals).

Dons ruckman Andrew Phillips capitalised on the Power's last-minute withdrawal of Scott Lycett, which handed a debut to raw 20-year-old Dante Visentini, to dominate with 33 hit-outs, offering plenty of quality first use for the Bombers. Jordan Ridley also blanked Todd Marshall, who had kicked 10 goals in his past three games, while Kyle Langford managed three goals up forward.

Port started the stronger with early goals from Rozee and Charlie Dixon, but were wasteful in front of goal, failing to capitalise on 18-8 inside 50s, 7-1 clearances and 6-1 marks inside 50 in the first term. Jayden Laverde's 50m bomb and Matt Guelfi's snap cut the margin to five points at the first break.

There were four lead changes alone in the second term with Essendon thwarting Port's early clearance dominance, while Butters lifted with 10 disposals. Port managed three goals to two for the quarter to lead by six points at half-time led by Farrell, who unleashed a trademark 55m goal, before his intercept mark initiated Rozee's excellent set shot goal from a tight angle.

But the Bombers hit back with an outstanding third term fuelled by 16-9 inside 50s and seven marks inside 50, with Guelfi and Langford both kicking their second goals to open up a seven-point lead, the former capitalising on Aliir Aliir's careless turnover in defence.

Butters responded to pull one back and level scores as the rain set in, before Jake Stringer slotted a set shot to restore Essendon's lead to nine points at the final change.

The Power, however, re-claimed the lead quickly with an assertive start to the last with clutch set shots from Finlayson and Burton. Sam Powell-Pepper's physicality grew in influence, setting up Rozee's major, before Byrne-Jones seemed to seal the points with his goal after Butters' run.

The Bombers had other ideas and looked set for their biggest scalp under Brad Scott after responding with three goals, with Caldwell converting after Mason Redman's hopeful left-foot snap landed in his lap. But Houston would have the final say.

ESSENDON 2.2 4.8 7.12 10.14 (74)

PORT ADELAIDE 2.7 5.8 6.9 11.12 (78)

GOALS

Essendon: Langford 3, Guelfi 2, Caldwell 2, Laverde, Martin, Stringer

Port Adelaide: Rozee 3, Dixon, Farrell, Narkle, Butters, Finlayson, Burton, Byrne-Jones, Houston

BEST

Essendon: Parish, Caldwell, Ridley, Phillips, Merrett, Heppell

Port Adelaide: Houston, Butters, Rozee, Farrell, Williams, Aliir

INJURIES

Essendon: Nil

Port Adelaide: Nil

LATE CHANGES