PORT Adelaide has overcome a lightning delay to keep its finals flame flickering for at least another few hours, after edging past St Kilda by six points in a tense finish. 

The second half was halted for almost an hour as a heavy storm passed through Moorabbin, but the Power proved too good for the Saints at RSEA Park, holding strong in the dying stages to record a 7.9 (51) to 7.3 (45) win.

Port Adelaide will need West Coast to defeat Hawthorn on Saturday night and hope that the Hawks’ percentage takes a big hit in order to jump into the top eight.

Glenn Strachan’s side will also need Melbourne to beat Adelaide and Sydney to beat Fremantle on Sunday.

The loss to the Power continued a disappointing season for the Saints, who underdelivered on expectations this year after reaching a maiden finals campaign in 2025, but have shown plenty of fight and grit in their past three matches under interim coach Matt Brewer.

The loss condemns the Saints to just the one win for the season, putting them at risk of the wooden spoon pending the outcome of Sunday’s game between Essendon and Collingwood, who head into the clash also with one win apiece.

Gun ruck Matilda Scholz was the star of the show for the Power, dominating against St Kilda’s vulnerable rucks to give the Power first use around the contest. 

Scholz looked dangerous whenever she had the ball, using her incredible athleticism to hurt the Saints both at stoppage and in transition around the ground.

She was also able to go forward and create an option ahead of the ball, taking a strong mark and converting a nice set shot just before the final change. 

The star tall, who is a chance to add another All-Australian to her trophy cabinet this year, finished with 13 disposals, 37 hitouts, six tackles and a goal.

Midfield bull Abbey Dowrick was also impressive, especially at the coalface, amassing seven clearances, six score involvements and an important goal late.

Dashing defender Ella Heads provided plenty of rebound and drive out of the back half with 18 disposals, while veteran on-baller Maria Moloney (12 disposals) and exciting youngster Piper Window were also strong contributors. 

For the Saints, captain Serene Watson (22 disposals) was the defensive general down back, regularly repelling Port Adelaide’s advances while creating some offense herself.

Forward Nicola Xenos, who returned this year from a lengthy layoff with a knee injury, snagged three goals as the most dangerous forward on the ground.

Despite being beaten at clearance (-9), St Kilda’s midfield unit of Ash Richards, Jaimee Lambert and Tyanna Smith worked hard all day. 

Port Adelaide’s win was soured by a shoulder injury to young forward Lauren Young, who landed awkwardly in the second term before being helped off the field by medical staff, while the Saints also lost J’Noemi Anderson to another hamstring injury.

Power pair go out in style
That might be the last we see of Port Adelaide pair Justine Mules-Robinson and Kirsty Lamb at AFLW level, unless the West Coast Eagles cause a boil over against Hawthorn on Saturday night and other results go the Power’s way across the weekend. Mules-Robinson and Lamb have both been trailblazers of the game, paving the way for the competition to get to the point it is today. Lamb, an inaugural Bulldog, made a name for herself as one of the toughest and best midfielders in the competition, claiming All-Australian honours in 2022 and a premiership in 2018. Mules-Robinson won three premierships with the Adelaide Crows before making the switch to Alberton, where she has captained the club since 2025. Both inspiring leaders both on and off the field and will leave a lasting legacy on the AFLW competition.

Saints' ruck dilemma exposed again
It would make lots of sense for the Saints to target a ruck during the off-season period. It’s been an area of weakness at Moorabbin for quite some time and was prevalent again against the Power, as star tall Matilda Scholz ran rampant at RSEA Park. Zoe Besanko is still very young, while Rene Caris and Emmelie Fiedler are yet to become reliable contributors at the top level. It looms as a busy off-season for the Saints with plenty of work to be done both on and off the field.

Up next
St Kilda’s focus will turn to the trade and draft landscape after a horror one-win season that saw Nick Dal Santo moved on as head coach, while the Power will need several results to go their way if they’re to sneak into the top eight and feature in another finals campaign.

ST KILDA                1.1    3.1    5.2    7.3 (45)
PORT ADELAIDE     2.2    3.4    5.5    7.9 (51)

GOALS
St Kilda: Xenos 3, Butterworth, Richards, Hobson, Tawhiao-Wardlaw
Port Adelaide: Woodland, Goody, Window, Houghton, Scholz, Hampson, Dowrick

BEST
St Kilda: Watson, Richards, Lambert, Xenos, Smith
Port Adelaide: Scholz, Heads, Dowrick, Moloney, Window

INJURIES
St Kilda: Anderson (hamstring), Richards (headknock)
Port Adelaide: Young (shoulder)

Crowd: TBC at RSEA PARK