Port Adelaide emulated the recent contender-killing feats of Carlton and Essendon by dealing a blow to the Western Bulldogs' AFL top four hopes with a thrilling victory at Darwin's Marrara Oval.

Despite lacking numerous big names and any real motivation to get the points, the Power held the lead for much of the first three quarters, then ate up a 17-point last term deficit to win 14.21 (105) to 13.13 (91) in front of an enthralled crowd of 14,100.

The unlikely result had an equally unlikely hero, with unsung half forward Michael Pettigrew firing through three of Port's five final term goals.

Importantly he kept his head to kick straight, something not all his teammates managed, as evidenced by a 5.10 return in the last quarter that kept the tiring Bulldogs in with some chance until the final minutes.

Shaun Burgoyne, brothers Chad and Kane Cornes and Brendon Lade were also prominent for Port, while rookie elevation Greg Bentley made an impression with a brilliant snap over his shoulder in the first half.

Only a hamstring tear to veteran Michael Wilson took some gloss from Port's strong finish.

The Dogs received good service from Brad Johnson (four goals), Scott West and Matthew Robbins (three), but have injury concerns of their own after Nathan Eagleton suffered a hamstring tear.

Port had elected to remove veteran defender Darryl Wakelin from the firing line before the opening bounce, his place taken by youngster Nick Lower.

Battles between finalists and also rans have produced some odd results in the past fortnight and Port must have taken heart from Essendon's win over Collingwood.

The Blues also hurt Melbourne's top four hopes with an upset victory last week.

The Power then repeated the dose, starting with plenty of run and finding early success with a game underpinned by long kicking and constant harrying of the Bulldogs when they were in possession.

Burgoyne, the Cornes brothers and Lade were all instrumental through the middle, while Thurstans kicked two goals as Port skipped out to a 12-point quarter time lead.

Kept in touch by a post-siren major to Shane Birss, the Bulldogs made a better fist of term two, adding goals through Robbins (two) and Daniel Cross thanks to some quicker forward movement.

However Port made sure it would keep the halftime lead through a trio of exceptional kicks from Bentley, Brett Ebert and Domenic Cassisi.

Much of term three was tight and the Bulldogs appeared to have stolen the crucial break when goals to Robbins, Johnson and Will Minson established a three goal margin at the final change.

But the Dogs slackened noticeably in the Darwin heat, allowing Port to stride home for a deserved victory that might have been greater with some straight kicking by someone other than Pettigrew.

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