41,317 fans flocked to the SCG for the top-four clash, which was the third largest attendance for a home and away game in the venue’s history.
Despite opening the match in impressive fashion and dominating possession, the Swans failed to make their hard work count on the scoreboard, notching up eight behinds and just two goals in the first quarter.
The Power evened things up in the second term, booting 5.3 to the Swans’ 4.4 to come within seven points at the long break.
In an intense first half, Kieren Jack, playing in his 150th game, fellow co-captain Jarrad McVeigh and defender Rhyce Shaw all stood up for the Swans, while Adam Goodes continued his impressive form, keeping the Swans in front with three first-half goals.
While not much separated the two sides at half-time, a dominant second half from key forward Lance Franklin gave the Swans the edge.
Franklin, who was goalless to halfway through the third term, caught fire to boot the side’s final five goals, including a huge bomb from just under 70 metres, which had the SCG crowd on their feet.
The game still went down to the wire as Port Adelaide lived up to their mantra of never giving up. A desperate Sam Reid spoil deep in defence in the final seconds sealed the game for the relieved Swans.
Speaking after the match, coach John Longmire said Franklin’s ability to step up at just the right time certainly helped the Swans to one of their best wins of the season.
"He really stood up in the last quarter," Longmire said.
"The game see-sawing like that, it's handy to have him in the front half.
"To be able to hit the scoreboard like he did in the last quarter was a really good effort."
The win was the Swans eighth-straight victory, and elevated the club’s record to 9-3 for the season.
Sydney Swans 2.8 6.12 11.13 14.14 (98)
Port Adelaide 1.2 6.5 9.10 13.16 (94)
Best: Franklin, K.Jack, McVeigh, Malceski, Shaw, Grundy
Goals: Franklin 5, Goodes 3, McVeigh 2, K.Jack, Jetta, Kennedy, Hannebery
Official crowd: 41,317 at the SCG
Brownlow Medal votes: 3 - L.Franklin (Syd), 2 – B.Ebert (PA), 1 - R.Shaw (Syd)
Bob Skilton Medal votes: Lance Franklin 48, Nick Smith 39, Kieren Jack 38, Jarrad McVeigh 35
