Port stun Sydney in AFL upset of season - The Australian

Port Adelaide have staged a major upset by defeating Sydney at AAMI Stadium.

Sydney Swans coach John Longmire says his side did not handle Port Adelaide's pressure well.

Victorious Port player Jay Schulz raises his arms amid the Power team after the siren. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Limited

Star recruit Kurt Tippett and other Swans walk off the ground after the shock loss to Port Adelaide. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Limited

EMERGING star Chad Wingard inspired Port Adelaide to the upset of the AFL season, a slogging 18-point comeback victory against Sydney.

The Power trailed at three-quarter time but Wingard triggered a late surge as Port won 10.12 (72) to 8.6 (54) at a sodden AAMI Stadium IN Adelaide.

Port ruined the comeback game of Sydney's prized recruit Kurt Tippett, who kicked a goal in the first minute and finished with two in an ominous debut for the Swans.

But in wet and windy conditions, Port kicked five goals to two in the last term to stun the Swans and climb into the top eight.

Wingard booted three goals, including two in the tense final stanza, while Port's acting captain Brad Ebert, Matthew Broadbent and veteran hard-nuts Dom Cassisi and Tom Logan revelled in the heavy going.

The Swans were superbly served by midfielders Josh Kennedy and Jarrad McVeigh and backman Nick Malceski was prominent.

But the flag fancies lost ex-skipper Adam Goodes, who was substituted at three-quarter time with an injured right knee.

The dual Brownlow medallist watched a final term in which the lead changed five times before Wingard helped to seal Sydney's fate.

The 19-year-old was instrumental in delivering first-year coach Ken Hinkley his greatest win after the Power slipped behind early as Tippett took centre stage.

Tippett took a mark just 11 seconds into his playing career at Sydney, and then converted, in an impressive comeback after an 11-match suspension for his illegal 2009 contract with his former club, Adelaide.

Tippett potted another some 17 minutes later as Sydney crafted a 4.1 to 1.2 advantage by quarter-time.

But the Port, in two quarters of water-logged work, snuck within four points at the last break.

The home side, inspired by Wingard, then overwhelmed the reigning premiers to bank their seventh win from 12 games this season.

PORT ADELAIDE 1.2 3.5 5.6 10.12 (72)

SYDNEY 4.1 5.2 6.4 8.6 (54)

Goals: Port Adelaide: C Wingard 3 A Monfries 2 J Neade J Schulz J Westhoff M Broadbent R Gray. Sydney: A Goodes 2 K Jack 2 K Tippett 2 M Morton T Mitchell.

Best: Port Adelaide: C Wingard Brad Ebert M Broadbent T Logan R Gray H Hartlett D Cassisi. Sydney: J Kennedy N Malceski J McVeigh K Jack R O'Keefe C Bird. Injuries: Port Adelaide: Paul Stewart (back) replaced in selected side by C Heath, J Butcher (tonsilitis) replaced in selected side by A Moore. Sydney: A Goodes (knee). Reports: Nil. Umpires: Troy Pannell, Stephen McBurney, Luke Farmer. Crowd: 16,096 at AAMI Stadium.

AAP