27/06/2026
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Port Adelaide produced the biggest upset of the AFL season, stunning fierce rival Adelaide by 26 points in Showdown 60 at the Adelaide Oval to dent the Crows' top-four ambitions.
Port Adelaide went into the game, and nobody thought they could win, other than "true believers", the players and coaching staff. But they showed more grit and determination than the Adelaide Crows. With 32 scoring shots to 16, they doubled the Crows for shots on goal, and should have won by a lot more.
The Adelaide Crows have issues in big games. Last year, they went out in straight sets during the finals. And tonight they couldn't defeat Port Adelaide, who were missing a swag of players through injury. A big worry for Matthew Nicks.
The statistics were damming for Adelaide fans. Adelaide led Port Adelaide in free kicks 21-20. But lost hit-outs 48-30. Lost clearances 42-20. Lost centre clearances 16-6, and lost clearances at stoppages 26-16. Those statistics are alarming.
Entering the contest as heavy underdogs and sitting 15th on the ladder, the Power delivered a powerful midfield display to defeat the fifth-placed Crows 13.19 (97) to 11.5 (71), with Zak Butters and Jason Horne-Francis producing dominant performances.
The star duo controlled the contest from the opening bounce. Butters amassed 37 disposals and a remarkable 13 clearances, while Horne-Francis gathered 29 possessions, 10 clearances and kicked a goal. Their combined clearance tally exceeded Adelaide's entire team as Port dominated stoppages 42-22, laying the foundation for a memorable victory.
Despite controlling the clearances early, Port struggled to convert its opportunities in the opening quarter, missing several set shots. Adelaide made the most of its limited chances, with Josh Rachele producing a brilliant boundary-line goal to help the Crows take a narrow four-point lead into the first break.
The match turned dramatically in the second term. After trailing by three points midway through the quarter, Port exploded with six unanswered goals that completely shifted the momentum. Corey Durdin and Joe Berry sparked the surge with two goals each as the Power opened a commanding advantage before extending the margin to 36 points early in the third quarter.
Adelaide never recovered.
While Darcy Fogarty battled hard with five goals in an outstanding individual performance, he received little support from his fellow forwards. Captain Jordan Dawson finished with 25 disposals but was unable to have his usual influence, while Izak Rankine and Josh Rachele were both well held.
Rankine's impact was further limited after suffering a leg injury late in the opening quarter when he was caught in a tackle by Butters. Although he returned after half-time with his knee heavily strapped, he was unable to provide his customary spark.
Port's forward line capitalised on the midfield dominance, with Durdin and Mitch Georgiades finishing with three goals apiece, while Berry and Jase Burgoyne each added two majors in an even attacking display.
The Power comfortably controlled the final quarter to complete a famous Showdown victory in front of 50,087 spectators, narrowing Adelaide's overall lead in the Showdown rivalry to 31 wins to 29.
For Adelaide, the defeat was a costly missed opportunity, leaving the Crows with a 9-6 record after failing to capitalise on the chance to move into the AFL's top four.
