For the second consecutive week, the Swans have played the villain in leaving it very late to dispatch of an unfancied opponent.
Less than a week removed from Jai Serong's heroic snap to sink the Saints, Dean Cox's men held on valiantly as Port surged, with the men in teal scoring three of the contest's final four majors.
Cox was pleased to bank another four points - four points that leave them three wins clear of third place - with a chance to regroup for a tilt at September now afforded his side, by the way of their mid-season bye.
"There's still a lot to work on, we understand that," Cox said.
"And that's the great part about being in a season that goes for 24 rounds - it's not always going to be perfect and given to you the way you want it.
"One thing that I've been really proud of is we have used and blooded some young kids in our team - young men that have come in and played really important roles.
"And we have leant on some really experienced players as well - the squad mentality was really important."
Far from content to rest on his laurels, Cox was adamant there's improvement to come from his high-octane squad.
"...That's the best part about having a mid-season break, is to have a look at the holistic part of your game ... and try and get some little gains we can make for the second half of the year."
Some of those gains will come in the shape of returns for some of the side's very best, with injured commodities Errol Gulden, Tom McCartin, Dane Rampe, Tom Papley and Braeden Campbell eyeing returns in the weeks immediately following their rest.
"Errol will, at this stage, look to play post-bye which is really good," Cox said.
"Tommy McCartin is progressing really well, so they're probably a couple, and then we'll work our way through Rampe and Papley and Braeden Campbell in the weeks to come after that."
With a challenging stretch of fixtures characterising their run post-breather, the returns of such critical cattle will be welcome ones.
The Swans renew hostilities with reigning premiers Brisbane at the Gabba, a dangerous Western Bulldogs outfit at home, top-two contemporaries Fremantle in Perth, and a humming Adelaide Crows side at home in the month that follows their bye.
Josh Carr's Port Adelaide side received more evidence they're on the right track, albeit without the nourishment four points provides.
It's a fifth loss by three points or fewer this season, with the Power's competitiveness sure to hold them in good stead as their list transition's under Carr's tutelage.
