Defeat Port Adelaide at Patersons Stadium and a top four spot was secured. But a loss would hand the Power the crucial double chance in the finals.
There was plenty of adversity for Ross Lyon’s men given the team had played in Brisbane, the longest trip in football, on the Sunday and had a six-day break leading into the Port contest.
Superstar Nat Fyfe was out suspended, and when the Power led by 12 points early in the third quarter it seemed like it wasn’t going to be Freo’s day.
But an incredible burst saw the home team pile on nine consecutive goals to blow out to a 38-point lead.
Port came back with a late run, but it was too late. Freo finished in the top four for the second year in a row.
