PORT ADELAIDE extended its lead in the Showdown tally with a scrappy and very narrow win over cross-town rival Adelaide on Saturday night.

Port was forced to come from behind after trailing for much of the contest before holding on for a four-point win at Adelaide Oval.

Here are some key things we learned from the game.

1) A win is a win, especially in a Showdown.

Port Adelaide captain Tom Jonas said it best after the game. “A Showdown win is a Showdown win!”. It was scrappy and error riddled, and at times frankly pretty hard to watch, but given the rivalry between Port and the Crows it was one neither side wanted to lose. For Port Adelaide it makes the overall ledger 26-24 in the 50 games played, and it makes it a clean sweep of four wins in four games in 2021 (including the two pre-season games between the sides). Given the context of the season, getting the four points was also important in ensuring Port kept hold of its spot in the top four. With two games to play, the club is two games clear of fifth placed Brisbane, meaning it would have to lose to Carlton and the Western Bulldogs and Brisbane win its games against Collingwood and West Coast. Sydney is also in the mix for the top four but would also need to win its games against North Melbourne and Gold Coast.

2) Aliir Aliir’s stocks as the best recruit of 2021 are rising

A Showdown medallist in just his second Showdown, Aliir was near on impenetrable on Saturday night. He had 16 intercepts and equalled the AFL record of 10 intercept marks – a career high. His 21 disposals at 81 per-cent efficiency and 400 metres gained showed his value in rebounding the ball out of defence. Aliir’s ability to read the ball and come off his man when required to break up the Adelaide play was vital. Coach Ken Hinkley said the 26-year-old had not played “bigger” for the club since his move from Sydney at the end of last year. “Sometimes you get to the end of a Showdown and you’re not sure who is going to win the medal but there was absolutely no doubt that he was going to win the medal at the end of the game. He was such an influential player... he rebounded enough almost on his own to keep us going.” The deal to get him to Alberton for a second-round pick is looking better the longer the season progresses.

3) Another record for Boak

It wasn’t the dominant showing we have come to expect from Travis Boak, but the former captain went about his business, helping turn the game in the second half for Port Adelaide. Boak had 27 disposals, four clearances and eight tackles against Adelaide. The performance didn’t earn him a fourth Showdown medal and second in a season, but the man who has played the most AFL games for Port Adelaide, has won the most games for Port Adelaide in the AFL and has recorded the most disposals for Port Adelaide in the AFL, has a new record to his name. The 33-year-old can now lay claim to having the most disposals in Showdowns with 637 in his 26 games against Adelaide (24.5 average). On Saturday night he overtook former Adelaide midfielder (and former Port Adelaide development coach) Scott Thompson who had 614 in 25 Showdowns at an average of 24.56 per game.

4) Port’s edge in the close ones

Saturday night’s win means Port Adelaide has now won 15 of its 20 games so far in 2021 by an average of 30.13 points. The result over the Crows was closer than many would have liked but it revealed something about Port Adelaide that in previous years might not have been the case. Port Adelaide is now mature enough to deal with the “close ones”. In 2021 it has now won three games (against Collingwood by one point in Round 10, against Richmond by two points in Round 4, and against Adelaide by four points in Round 21) by less than a goal. With the race for a top-four spot to go right to the wire, those wins could prove vital to the club’s premiership chances in 2021. To put it into perspective, of Port’s games decided by nine points or less in 2018, Port lost four and won two. That year Port would finish one win outside the top eight.

5) Drew the tackling machine

It is not often a player with red hair goes unnoticed but Willem Drew’s feats on the footy field tend to fly a bit under the radar. The 22-year-old has been incredibly consistent in 2021 after an injury interrupted two seasons, taking much of the load off the shoulders of midfield teammates Ollie Wines and Travis Boak. 30 games into his career, Drew’s hunt has been vital to Port winning the ball in the contest and getting it going forward. He is averaging 6.7 tackles per game this season, ranking him as elite amongst the competition. He had another ten tackles against the Crows, and now ranks third in the competition for total tackles. His 133 in 20 games has him ranked behind only St Kilda’s Jack Steele (174 tackles) and Gold Coast’s Touk Miller (137). To put it into perspective, the next best Port Adelaide player is Boak, ranked 25^th with 91 tackles for the season.