NORTH Melbourne has staged its second upset in as many weeks, with a
thrilling four-point win over Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

The Roos trailed by 20 points half way through the second quarter, but
rallied to kick five of the last six goals to secure the 10.11 (71) to
9.13 (67) victory.

Power forward Brett Ebert (three goals) gave his side the lead with
less than 10 minutes to play, but a late 50m penalty to Scott McMahon
saw Port Adelaide mowed down for the second straight week.

It was a disappointing finish to the careers of two Port Adelaide champions Brendon Lade and Peter Burgoyne.

The game was played in front of just 17, 284 people – the lowest turnout for an AFL game at AAMI Stadium.

Drew Petrie led the goalkicking with four for the Kangaroos, while Josh
Gibson (27 possessions), Liam Anthony (25 possessions) and Brady
Rawlings, who had the job on Danyle Pearce, found plenty of the ball.

Kane Cornes finished with 33 touches for the Power ahead of defender Troy Chaplin (28 touches) and Robbie Gray (26).

Port Adelaide’s extremely faint finals hopes were dashed prior to the
opening bounce when Essendon defeated Hawthorn, but there was still
plenty of feeling in the bottom-eight clash.

Unfortunately, the skill execution in trying conditions failed to match the endeavour of both sides.

Last weekend’s hero Petrie gave the visitors a dream start with a mark
and goal opposed to young Power full-back Alipate Carlile in the
opening three minutes of the game.

But Carlile had the laugh last when Petrie was reported for striking in an off the ball incident.

Both teams sprayed shots on goal and struggled to negotiate the swirly
breeze. Hitting targets in general play also proved to be a challenge
until Petrie conjured a miraculous goal over his head.

Ebert made the most of a run outside 50m with a penetrating kick to promising forward Nick Salter in the goal square.

Salter converted his shot on goal and another major to Brogan gave Port Adelaide a five-point lead at the first change.

The low-scoring scrap continued in the second quarter.

Dom Cassisi, Kane Cornes and Travis Boak worked hard to give Port
Adelaide the ascendancy at the stoppages, but North Melbourne trio
Rawlings, Anthony and Cruize Garlett matched their efforts.

It took eight minutes before young gun Hamish Hartlett showed everyone
how it was done with a low, accurate shot on goal to extend the margin
to 10 points.

Ebert, who was a late replacement for injured veteran Warren Tredrea, continued to make the most of a tough week.

His mark and goal increased the Power’s lead to 16 points and the alarm bells started ringing for the Roos.

North Melbourne, in typical fashion, responded with a goal to Aaron
Edwards but another Power teenager, this time Matthew Broadbent, showed
his wares with an accurate long shot on goal.

Tempers flared again when Chaplin caught Andrew Swallow high.

Big man Josh Smith pounced on the resulting loose ball to kick his
first goal in AFL football and cut the deficit to 13 points at half
time.

Rain set in at the main break, but ironically the third term produced more goals than either of the opening two.

Port Adelaide again threatened to blow open the game, kicking two of
the opening three goals – to Ebert and Hartlett – to lead by 20 points.

But North Melbourne kicked the next three to again raise questions about Port's ability to run out the game.

Gibson and Petrie both capitalised with goals from Port Adelaide errors
in defence and a brilliant snap from Harvey saw the Roos claw back
within a solitary point.

Another goal to Harvey at the start of the last quarter gave North the
lead for the first time since the half-way mark of the first term and
then the rain really set in.

The Power had four shots on goal before a pin-point pass from Peter
Burgoyne found Ebert on the chest. He slotted through his third and
restored his side’s lead with 10 minutes to play, but the Roos came
again.

Harvey and Petrie both missed opportunities to cover themselves in
glory with errant shots on goal and it looked like the Power might hold
on.

But when Scott McMahon was pushed after marking the ball outside 50m, the Roos had one last shot at victory.

McMahon was awarded a 50m penalty and he kicked truly to give his side a four-point win.

Port Adelaide 3.2 6.5 8.9 9.13 (67)
North Melbourne 2.3 4.4 8.6 10.11 (71)

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Ebert 3, Hartlett 2, Lade, Salter, Brogan, Broadbent
North Melbourne: Petrie 3, Smith, Harvey 2, Edwards, Gibson, McMahon

BEST
Port Adelaide: Cassisi, K Cornes, Boak, Gray, C Cornes, Chaplin, Ebert
North Melbourne: Gibson, Rawlings, Petrie, Harvey, Anthony, Firrito, Thompson

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil

Reports: Petrie
reported by umpire Avon for striking Carlile in the first quarter.
Chaplin reported by umpire Avon for striking Swallow in the second
quarter.
Gray reported by umpire Pannell for striking Thompson before the opening bounce of the third quarter.
K Cornes reported by umpire Avon for using obscene/insulting or abusive language after the final siren.

Umpires: Margetts, Meredith, McBurney

Official crowd: 17,284 at AAMI Stadium