IT WASN'T Port Adelaide's greatest win against Adelaide but it sure was sweet as it dumped the Crows from the top eight, leaving them floundering.

This gave Port a 13-12 lead in these battles of bragging rights in this city, and equally importantly it salvaged some respect in what has been a dismal season after contesting last year's grand final. In fact, the manner in which the Power celebrated one would have thought it had won the premiership this time.

However, finals is not something Adelaide is talking about with coach Neil Craig conceding that on yesterday's performance it would not be there in September. "We are not a finals team," Craig said.

"We see some good football for a period of time, but then it drops away."

Port coach Mark Williams described it as a "great effort from everyone", adding it was about the players giving a bit of themselves to the club.

"We beat Adelaide at contested ball, and continually showed that we can play that in the last three or four weeks," Williams said.

"We beat them at hard ball gets, tackles, clearances … pretty nice stats for us