Gemma Houghton’s late heroics helped the Port Adelaide Power win their home final with victory over the Greater Western Sydney Giants.

YARTAPUULTI emerged from jail with a one-point win over Greater Western Sydney to secure a home AFLW elimination final.

Gemma Houghton’s powerful goal with less than a minute remaining gave Port their first lead on Sunday at Alberton Oval and they won 7.1 (43) to 6.6 (42).

POWER v GIANTS Full match coverage and statistics

Had Port lost, they would have been on the road next weekend in their first finals series to play Fremantle in one of the knockout matches.

Instead, victory in front of a raucous home crowd of over 4,000 means they will host Richmond in the knockout final.

It was a brutal end to the season for the Giants, whose losing streak extended to eight games.

They were outstanding for most of the match, but the experience of veteran Power Kirsty Lamb was crucial when the game was on the line.

Lamb scored the first goal of the final season before her pass found Houghton, who marked and struck the match winner.

Adding to the tough day for GWS, Megan Gaffney suffered an injury to her right knee, having just returned this season from a torn ACL.

The Giants have averaged 70 tackles per game this season, but they had a whopping 106 to 80 on Sunday.

Captain Bec Beeson was strong, scoring her side’s only goal of the season and earning a record 25 clearances for her best performance on the field.

She stayed grounded in a frantic final quarter despite a header.

Port’s Maria Moloney played a crucial role with 17 possessions, including 13 contested possessions.

Port suffered a double blow before the game, with ruck Mathilde Scholz (calf) and midfielder Abby Dowrick (soreness) leaving the game late.

GWS applied pressure from the start and were rewarded when Eilish O’Dowd scored the opening goal three minutes later.

They held a record 17-point lead in the third season, but Port kept pace and scored three goals to one in the final quarter.

YARTAPUULTI 1.1 3.1 4.1 7.1 (43)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.2 4.4 5.6 6.6 (42)

GOALS
Yartapulti: Wendland 2, Mules-Robinson, Kerik, Lamb, Saint, Houghton
Greater Western Sydney: O’Dowd, Evans, Garnett, Goldsworthy, Mowbray, Beeson

BEST
Yartapulti: Wendland, Saint, Moloney
Greater Western Sydney: Evans, Beeson, Mowbray

INJURIES
Yartapulti: Syme
Greater Western Sydney: Gaffney

LATE CHANGES
Yartapulti: Mathilde Scholz and Abby Dowrick were replaced on the selected team by Ange Foley and Maddie Kerik.

Reports: zero

Crowd: 4148 at Alberton Oval