Young gun Chad Wingard kicked five goals including the match winner with 30 seconds to go as Port Adelaide stunned Adelaide with a last gasp four-point AFL victory on Sunday.
Wingard’s heroics capped a precious 17.5 (107) to 15.13 (103) triumph before 43,368 spectators at AAMI Stadium, with Port now two wins clear in eighth spot.
The result effectively killed off the finals chances of Adelaide, who led by 20 points with nine minutes remaining.
The Crows are now four wins behind Port with four games to play after their unheralded late collapse in the closest result between the South Australian rivals.
Port’s Wingard booted his fifth goal with 30 seconds remaining, slotting a clutch 35 metre set shot.
His blow gave Port the lead for the first time in the final term and followed a remarkable bouncing goal by Power forward Angus Monfries, whose left foot shot looked headed for a point before taking a lucky right-turn bounce to go through the goals.
Monfries and Wingard’s strikes came in the last 100 seconds of play to steer Port towards their first finals campaign since 2007.
The Power are two wins ahead of ninth-placed Carlton, and three ahead of a pack featuring West Coast, North Melbourne and Brisbane.
Adelaide are stuck on seven wins and will miss the play-offs after being beaten preliminary finalists last season.
The Crows appeared doomed at halftime after Wingard and Hartlett triggered a Power surge.
Port kicked seven goals – with Hartlett scoring three of them – to Adelaide’s two in the second quarter to create an ominous 21-point halftime break.
But the Crows turned the tables on their arch rivals with seven goals to two in the third quarter to take a 12-point lead at the last change.
And when utility Ricky Henderson slotted a major in the 21st minute, the Crows held a seemingly match-defining 20 point break.
But goals to Gray, Monfries and then Wingard capped a stunning comeback for Port, who travel to play Geelong next Saturday.
The Crows host North Melbourne on Sunday.