AFTER leading by as much as 34 points in the final term, Port Adelaide was unable to seal the deal, going down to Essendon by seven points at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Bombers kicked 17.18 (120) to 17.11 (113).

Port Adelaide looked set for its third win of the season when Jay Schulz goaled at the seven-minute mark of the final term and the lead ballooned to more than 30 points.

But the Bombers slammed on the next seven goals, five of which came in a 10-minute burst.

The second quarter gave a glimpse to the future as two of the game's most exciting young tall forwards did their best to grab the game for each of their teams.

Michael Hurley took two convincing marks and kicked two goals in a two-minute burst midway through the second quarter, then third-gamer John Butcher booted three goals for Port from strong marks.

Hurley and Butcher finished with four goals each and made what could have been round 23's afterthought into an enthralling contest.

Robbie Gray kicked six for the Power, while David Rodan was probably best on ground with his clearance work out of the middle.

Most expected Essendon to wake from its slumber at some stage of the game and a four-goal run at the opening of the second quarter suggested that common sense had returned after Port Adelaide's solid start.

But the Power slammed on 11 of the next 12 goals to open up the lead.

Essendon had its chances in the third quarter and probably had more of the play. But the Bombers could only kick 1.7 as poor decision making and poor discipline, particularly from Kyle Reimers let them down.

Travis Colyer ignited some energy when he was substituted on for Cale Hooker in the third quarter and was a key factor in turning the game around.

David Hille ran himself into the ground in the final quarter trying to wrestle back the lead while Colyer, Ben Howlett and Jobe Watson moved the ball quickly and dangerously.

Betting
On Sunday morning Port Adelaide was paying $20 for the win - an astonishing price in a two-horse race. For all the Power's misery this year they were playing against a team that had locked in a finals berth and was resting its most experienced player in Dustin Fletcher. The betting agencies obviously didn't consider that the Bombers might just have the foot off the pedal. There would have been some nervous punters watching this one.


QUARTER BY QUARTER
FIRST QUARTER
David Rodan won the first centre clearance of the match for Port Adelaide and hit Jay Schulz lace out, who converted his set shot from 30 metres. Essendon opened its account five minutes later when David Hille was gifted a goal courtesy of a Power interchange infringement. The contest see-sawed for the remainder of the term as Dom Cassisi, Robbie Gray and then Schulz (again thanks to a Rodan pass) goaled for the visitors, while Dyson Heppell, Jake Carlisle and David Zaharakis notched goals for Essendon.

Essendon by two.

SECOND QUARTER
Steven Salopek kicked the first of the quarter to put Port back in front, but the Bombers then assumed control. Leroy Jetta regained the lead for the home team, and then Michael Hurley, rarely seen until that point, reeled in a pair of strong marks and converted both set shots. When Alwyn Davey roved a pack at the top of the goal square and slammed home Essendon's fourth straight, the margin was 20 points and the blowout many had expected looked on the cards. Enter John Butcher. The young Power forward took three big contested grabs in the latter half of the quarter, converting all three to goals.

Power by eight.

THIRD QUARTER
Port Adelaide attacked early and got reward when Gray received a free kick at the four-minute mark and booted his fourth goal. When Cam O'Shea ran into an open goal after getting on the end of an outstanding gather and handball from Schulz, the Power led by 22 points. Essendon had most of the play for the rest of the quarter, but couldn't make any meaningful inroads into the margin, with Paddy Ryder (twice), Jetta, Brent Stanton and Angus Monfries all missing shots. Only Michael Hurley split the big sticks, after a dicey free kick against Jackson Trengove 15 metres out. But his goal was answered by a brilliant snap by Gray.

Power by 16.

FOURTH QUARTER
Far from trying to protect its lead, Port Adelaide immediately surged. Goals to Gray (his sixth), Butcher (his fourth) and Schulz (his third) put Matthew Primus' men 33 points clear. But the stunned pro-Bombers crowd came to life when Ryder, Travis Colyer (having a huge impact as the substitute) and Kyle Reimers all kicked goals in the space of three minutes midway through the quarter. Port ran out of gas as the Bombers kept charging.

Bombers by seven.

Essendon                5.1     9.5     10.12   17.18 (120)
Port Adelaide        4.5     10.7    13.10   17.11 (113)

GOALS
Essendon: Hurley 4, Carlisle 2, Jetta 2, Davey 2, Heppell, Hille, Zaharakis, Ryder, Colyer, Reimers, Monfries
Port Adelaide: Gray 6, Butcher 4, Schulz 3, Cassisi, Salopek, O'Shea, Banner

BEST
Essendon: Hurley, Hille, Zaharakis, Heppell, Watson, Colyer
Port Adelaide: Gray, Rodan, Boak, Butcher, Schulz, Motlop

INJURIES
Essendon: Nil
Port Adelaide: O'Shea (ankle)

SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Cale Hooker replaced by Travis Colyer during the third quarter

Port Adelaide: Cameron O'Shea (ankle) replaced by Matthew Broadbent during the third quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Hay, Jennings, McInerney

Official crowd: 34,849 at Etihad Stadium

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL