PORT Adelaide genius Robbie Gray has conjured a great escape, scoring the match-winning goal with seconds remaining to sink St Kilda by two points.
Gray's running goal with less than 10 seconds left delivered Port a precious 9.9 (63) to 8.13 (61) win at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Gray's last-gasp heroics came after the Saints held a 10-point lead with minutes remaining, only for Port's Aaron Young and Gray to steal the win for the home side.
Port (11 wins and seven losses) will tread water around fifth spot but are now two wins clear of the slipping Saints (9-9).
The Power's triumph was substance rather than style - both sides struggled to score in tricky winds and slippery conditions as Port led 5.7 to 3.12 at three-quarter time.
The dour battle sparked in a frenetic finale with Port appearing safe when Brad Ebert served up a 55m bomb for a 14-point lead midway through the term.
But the plucky Saints replied with four unanswered goals - when Tim Membrey slotted this third, they were 10 points up.
But Port's Young scrambled a snap and then Gray stole the show, converting on the run from 50m for a famous win.
Port was well served by reliable onballer Ollie Wines (23 disposals), Jared Polec (30 touches) and Gray (27 possessions), while Hamish Hartlett and Jasper Pittard were in the thick of it defensively.
Spearhead Charlie Dixon was among seven goalkickers for Port, who meet hometown rival and ladder leader Adelaide next Sunday.
The Saints, who host West Coast next Sunday, had a midfield with plenty of punch led by Seb Ross (31 possessions) and Luke Dunstan and Jake Carlisle was superb in defence.
PORT ADELAIDE 2.3 3.5 5.7 9.9 (63)
ST KILDA 1.3 2.8 3.12 8.13 (61)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Westhoff, Amon, Impey, Polec, Trengove, Dixon, Ebert, Young, R Gray
St Kilda: Membrey 2, Lonie, Membrey, Acres, Gresham, Billings, Dunstan
BEST
Port Adelaide: R Gray, Wines, Hartlett, Ryder, Byrne-Jones, Jonas
St Kilda: Dunstan, Carlisle, Ross, Roberton, Acres
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
St Kilda: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stephens, Kamolins, Findlay
Official crowd: 30,335 at Adelaide Oval
