Port Gazette: The penultimate thriller
Port Adelaide is one step from its third AFL grand final in 16 years. Sometimes, that last step can be the most dramatic writes Michelangelo Rucci.
www.portadelaidefc.com.auI don’t have live access to fresh news right now, but here’s the latest commonly cited context around the 2004 AFL Prelim Final between Port Adelaide and St Kilda.
Answer upfront
- The 2004 Preliminary Final was a shootout-style encounter at Football Park (AAMI Stadium) on September 17, 2004, with Port Adelaide edging St Kilda in a dramatic finish. Port Adelaide won by a narrow margin after a late sequence, preventing a Saints comeback.[4][5]
Key context and highlights
- Fraser Gehrig of St Kilda kicked his 99th goal of the season early in the game, signaling a high-scoring night that kept both sides in contention throughout.[3]
- The match delivered multiple momentum swings, with Port Adelaide briefly taking the lead in the final minutes before Saint Kilda pressed again; a late defensive smother by a Port Adelaide player helped seal the result and keep Port on track for a Grand Final appearance that year.[5][3]
- Port Adelaide’s victory sent them one step away from the 2004 Grand Final; the win is widely remembered for its tension and dramatic finish at Football Park.[2][5]
Where to watch or read more
- AFL and club-year retrospectives often feature long-form pieces and clips from the 2004 PF, including highlights and the final moments. For precise play-by-play and final scores, AFL Tables and club archives are good primary sources.[10][5]
- Club-produced retrospectives, such as Port Adelaide’s Footy Park Flashbacks and match recaps, provide narrative detail on how the Power navigated the quarter-by-quarter momentum shifts and the late boundary results.[3]
If you’d like, I can pull current summaries or verified clips from specific outlets and provide a concise, sourced recap with key turning points and final score. I can also prepare a short, annotated timeline of the final minutes if that would help.