PHIL WALSH believed in getting the job done, in winning tough, hard, contested ball; basic footy values that define football teams the country over.
On Thursday night, at the Adelaide Oval, a team he had a brief but lasting impact on, representing a club that he had spent 11 seasons of football as an assistant coach grooming ball-winners for the contest, was forced to produce its best and hardest play.
Four quarters of prime wet weather football against one of the form sides of the competition in Collingwood is no easy task, but the Power held on - tightly - despite the slippery conditions after a torrent of rain in the third term.
There was no song in the stadium, no celebrations, for this was a night of mourning.
But it was a victory that would have made Walsh pleased. And proud.
After a romping first quarter where they led by 26 points running in waves and moving the ball forward with speed, the Power was rattled by Collingwood's four straight goals after quarter time.
Westhoff, Gray and Wines got the Power into the game early and kept them there with smart ball use - Westhoff particularly returned to his best vintage with aggressive, everywhere-style football.
Wines and Gray also had an appetite for the ball, and played night-long games working hard through the midfield and up-forward.
Power through the rain
As to be expected from a top five side, Collingwood responded in the second term.
Four consecutive goals through Witts, Crisp, White and Oxley had the Power on the rack, and going slow and wide with minimal impact.
Only a late goal to Monfries kept Port's nose in front at half time.
Then the rain fell, turning the game on its head as players resorted to schoolboy footy tactics - kick long, kick along the ground, just get the ball forward whatever way possible.
This advantaged the Power though, when Robbie Gray kicked a goal to put the Power further ahead, and Chad Wingard followed suit shortly after, the sense was that the home side was just going to find something to grind out a win.
A pivotal moment came in the third quarter when Taylor Adams dropped his knee into Westhoff’s face while the pair wrestled on the ground. Nothing came of it (except perhaps a memo to the Match Review Panel) but the Power's leaders fired up and got physical.
It gave the Power a momentum boost and Collingwood looked unlikely, or unable, to break it, until a chance passage forced Jasper Pittard to concede a free defending Alex Fasolo, who obliged with a critical steadier for the Pies.
Elliott then scored against the flow. Then the villain Adams followed to bring the margin within 11 points at three-quarter time.
Havnig wasted the opportunity to put the Pies away, Port Adelaide was instead staring down the barrel of a form side searching for a famous road win, and looking a genuine chance to pull one off.
Toughing it out, getting the job done
Not for the first time this season has a besieged Port Adelaide held tough against the flow.
Collingwood launched itself forward in the fourth quarter to find two late, fluky goals to De Goey and Adams squeezing the margin back within three points.
But it was Port Adelaide's defence that stood up, as running backs Broadbent, Hombsch and Pittard swept the Power out of danger, with support from Trengove, O'Shea and Clurey.
They helped hold Port's meagre lead, and with Chad Wingard scoring a third goal for the match early in the term, the Power was able to hang tough.
As players collapsed at the final siren with a three-point win in hand, it was a fitting reminder that both sides had played in a Walshlike spirit - hard, contested footy - and right to the end.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 5.3 6.6 8.11 9.12 (66)
COLLINGWOOD 1.1 5.5 7.6 9.9 (63)
PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU’S BEST
Wines, Westhoff, R. Gray, Broadbent, Wingard, Hombsch
GOALS
Wingard 3, R. Gray 2, Impey, Westhoff, Schulz, Monfries
SUBSTITUTION
Brendon Ah Chee replaced Matthew Lobbe at three-quarter time
INJURIES
Lobbe (back)
CROWD
45,418 at the Adelaide Oval
