North Melbourne kept their AFL finals chances alive with a dour two-point win over Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

Port skipper Warren Tredrea missed a set shot from close range, but on a tight angle, in the dying seconds to let the Kangaroos escape 10.16 (76) to 10.14 (74).

After leading by nine points at half-time, but then trailing by 10 before the final term, the Kangaroos held sway despite a late charge from the Power.

Scott McMahon kicked two goals while for Port, Brett Ebert did best with three, including two in the third team when Port threatened to take charge of the contest.

The Power looked gone, trailing by 10 points late in the final term until a free and goal to Daniel Motlop gave the home side a sniff with about 90 seconds remaining.

A final push into the forward 50 metres resulted in a mark to Tredrea about 10 metres from goal on a tight angle but his attempt to run around the mark failed.

The Port skipper had been well held all night, only picking up his first kick at the 19-minute mark of the second term in a game marked by skill and decision errors from both sides.

A miracle snap from North's Lindsay Thomas in the goal square looked to have the Kangaroos safe with about five minutes remaining before the Power's charge kept hearts racing until the final siren.

In the first quarter Port Adelaide opened well making good use of the breeze, Greg Bently picking up the opening goal of the game after accepting a pass from Daniel Motlop.

However, an uncharacteristic mistake from Chad Cornes, who played well below his best, gifted a goal to North Melbourne's Adam Simpson when he easily intercepted an errant pass from the Port champion about 30 metres from goal.

Ebert got Port's second with a mark 20 metres out, while 100-gamer Nathan Lonie also posted a major for the Power.

The Kangaroos responded with a goal to McMahon before Adam Thomson gave Port a two-goal buffer from a set shot.

Port should have gone further ahead but two misses from Shaun Burgoyne from relatively easy set shots less than 35 metres from goal hurt his team, allowing the Kangaroos to go to the break with a three point lead.

In the second term North slowly gained the upper hand with early goals to Daniel Pratt and a second to McMahon while Port had trouble taking a mark inside 50 metres.

Port dominated the third term without putting the Kangaroos away, only to have the visitors get back into the contest in t he final term.

The win left North with seven for the season and still log-jammed with a number of other teams vying for eighth spot on the ladder.

After making four changes going into the game, including axing Shannon Grant for disciplinary reasons, North coach Dean Laidley said he was pleased with his young side's persistence.

"It's been a big week for us and it was a pretty young side that we brought over," he said.

"But they never gave in, the boys never gave in.

"Now we've re-set our sails and probably got the win that we needed."

Laidley said the pressure around the ball was excellent from both sides and conceded his team "had a little bit of luck" with Tredrea's final shot missing the target.

Power coach Mark Williams described the loss as gut-wrenching but was pleased with his side was able to beat the Kangaroos for tackles and hard-ball gets.

He was also happy his side battled on to the end but was shocked at some of the blunders made by key players.

"You'd hate to think they cost you the game but in the end they do," he said.

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