Port Adelaide star Dan Houston is facing a lengthy suspension on the eve of the AFL finals over a high bump on Izak Rankine in his side’s 22-point win over arch-rivals Adelaide.
Tensions boiled over when Houston laid out Rankine with a shirt-front during the third quarter of the Power’s fiery 11.14 (80) to 8.10 (58) victory at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
Rankine was eventually helped to his feet and driven off the ground on a medical cart with concussion.
The high contact and damage inflicted on Rankine means All-Australian defender Houston is likely to be referred directly to the tribunal, putting his participation in Port’s finals campaign in doubt.
Zak Butters (42 disposals, 10 clearances) and Connor Rozee (28, nine) starred as the Power locked in a top-four spot with their victory, earning a finals double-chance for the fourth time in five seasons.
The result also snapped Port’s three-match losing streak against the Crows and levelled the overall record between the South Australian rivals at 28-28.
Jason Horne Francis was influential with 23 disposals, eight clearances and two goals, while Willie Rioli (three), Francis Evans and Darcy Byrne-Jones (two each) also kicked multiple majors.
Butters, Rozee, Ollie Wines and ruckman Jordon Sweet led Port to a convincing 52-38 win in clearances.
Matt Crouch (29 touches), Jordan Dawson (26) and Rory Laird (24) were all busy for Adelaide as Rankine and Darcy Fogarty kicked two goals each.
Josh Rachele kicked one from 10 disposals after lighting the pre-match fuse on Adelaide radio when he claimed “Port supporters don’t have many teeth” and said he didn’t care if Power fans jeered him.
They did every time he went near the ball and were also incensed by a one-sided free-kick count – 7-1 at one point – in the opening stages as the Crows led by two points at quarter time despite Port’s clearance control.
A stoppage win through Jordon Sweet’s expert tap led to a brilliant Horne-Francis goal from the forward pocket, which opened the scoring in the second quarter.
But Rachele kicked a superb goal of his own at a stoppage and goaded Port fans by pointing to his teeth as he celebrated in their faces on the boundary line.
Darcy Fogarty and Riley Thilthorpe made it three consecutive Crows goals and they led 6.6 to 4.9 at the main break.
A tight third quarter exploded when Houston collided with Rankine and Port kicked the only two goals of the term to snatch a two-point lead by the final change.
Willie Rioli and Jase Burgoyne both kicked majors from the goal square early in the last quarter to give the Power breathing space and they were a class above when it mattered.
Port have now won seven of their past eight games ahead of a final-round clash with Fremantle at Optus Stadium, while Adelaide will complete their year against ladder leaders Sydney at the SCG.