SYDNEY has produced another great escape, toppling a plucky Port Adelaide by three points to claim equal top spot on the ladder.

The Swans trailed by nine points at three-quarter time, but prevailed 14.9 (93) to 13.12 (90) at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

A week after coming from six points down at the last change to pip St Kilda, Sydney kicked five goals to three in the final term against Port, who rallied hard the entire night.

The Swans (12-2) join Fremantle (12-1) at the top of the ladder, with the Dockers ahead on percentage and having played one less game.

Sydney has a bye next weekend before a challenging month: Brisbane (away), the Western Bulldogs (home), Fremantle (away) and Adelaide (home).

Unfancied Port (4-9) held a match-high 20-point lead midway through the second term.

The Power's initial half-dozen scoring shots were behinds and they led 3.6 to 3.2 at quarter-time.

Port kicked the opening three goals of the second term to create a 20-point break and held a 7.9 to 5.6 half-time advantage.

Mid-season draftee Xavier Bamert, on AFL debut, featured in two flashpoints in the third term.

The 19-year-old, plucked from North Melbourne's VFL team, booted his first AFL goal eight minutes into the term.

But soon after, he gifted the Swans a goal – standing the mark, he misheard an umpire's call and advanced on Riley Bice, who was given a 50m penalty and goaled.

Bice's strike put his side two points down and star midfielder Isaac Heeney gave Sydney the lead minutes later with a classy long-range left-foot snap.

Heeney's strike was the fourth major in an ominous dozen minutes for the Swans, but Port responded with two rapid goals to take a nine-point buffer into three-quarter time, 10.11 to 9.8.

Flag fancy Sydney then booted four consecutive goals in the final term to turn its deficit into a 15-point lead.

But the Power again rallied with the next two majors to trail by three points with five minutes remaining.

Swan James Rowbottom crumbed a goal with two-and-a-half minutes left, only for Port's Jordon Sweet to convert with 34 seconds on the clock – the last score of the game.

Sydney captain Callum Mills (29 disposals), Isaac Heeney (30, one goal), Chad Warner (26, one goal) and defender Nick Blakey (25) were prolific ball-winners, while Charlie Curnow and Logan McDonald booted three goals apiece.

Port's acting captain Zak Butters (27 touches, one goal) was also a standout, while Mitch Georgiades and Corey Durdin slotted two majors each.

Forward's midfield switch paying off
Port has gradually given Joe Richards more midfield time across recent weeks, and it continued to pay off against the Swans. The former Magpie attended the third most centre bounces – behind only Jordon Sweet and Jason Horne-Francis – and also provided an excellent link from defence, finishing with 23 disposals, nine marks, seven clearances and a goal.

PORT ADELAIDE      3.6     7.9     10.11     13.12 (90)
SYDNEY                      3.2     5.6      9.8      14.9 (93)
 
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Sweet 2, Horne-Francis 2, Georgiades 2, Durdin 2, Richards, Cochrane, Butters, Berry, Bamert
Sydney: McDonald 3, Curnow 3, Lloyd 2, Warner, Rowbottom, Rosas, Heeney, Bice, Amartey
 
BEST
Port Adelaide: Butters, Richards, Horne-Francis, Aliir, Sweet, Byrne-Jones
Sydney: Heeney, Warner, Mills, McDonald, Blakey, Grundy
 
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
Sydney: Nil
 
Crowd: 31,350 at Adelaide Oval