Even Greater Western Sydney coach Adam Kingsley is surprised at securing a preliminary final berth with a stirring 23-point victory over Port Adelaide.
Vice-captain Stephen Coniglio produced a first-half masterclass and Jesse Hogan slotted four goals in the Giants' 13.15 (93) to 9.16 (70) semi-final triumph on Saturday night.
Coniglio inspired a five-goal blitz in 10 golden minutes in the second quarter at Adelaide Oval as the Giants book a preliminary final against flag favourites Collingwood next Friday night at the MCG.
"You're saying, well, did I expect to make a prelim? No. Not this year anyway," Kingsley said.
Brisbane host Carlton at the Gabba in the other preliminary final on Saturday from 1715 AEST.
Port, like fellow top-four outfit Melbourne on Friday night, exit the finals with consecutive losses.
"It was really clear we learned some really valuable lessons from the last two weeks in the finals ... the game steps up in the contest," Power coach Ken Hinkley said.
"Everyone talks around it, it's not like we were surprised by it and ambushed by it in any way.
"We just weren't good enough to be able to cope with it."
Coniglio, who missed last week's elimination final triumph against St Kilda because of an eye injury, collected 22 disposals, kicked a goal, and had five clearances and eight score involvements to halftime.
The ex-skipper finished with 30 disposals and two majors while fellow stalwarts Lachie Whitfield (33 disposals), Josh Kelly (21, two goals), Tom Green (29) and Callan Ward (24) were other standouts.
Hogan and captain Toby Greene (three goals) were attacking menaces and defenders Sam Taylor and Jack Buckley were superb.
Port's Willie Rioli dazzled with three goals, Zak Butters had 25 touches and Dan Houston 22, while Travis Boak collected 21 disposals in what could be the 35-year-old's last game.
Port held a three-point lead early in the second term before the Giants' so-called 'Orange Tsunami' rolled in.
Coniglio sparked a match-defining of five consecutive goals a a stylish 10-minute purple patch.
The Giants, silencing the 45,250-strong pro-Port crowd, created a match-high 33-point break before leading by 29 at halftime, 9.11 to 5.6.
The advantage should have been greater: after the five consecutive majors, the visitors scored six successive behinds in a period of complete domination.
Port's snuck within 18 points some 15 minutes into the third term but the the Giants, with Conigilo adding another major, rallied only to again be cruelled by inaccuracy.
In their wayward stretch, GWS added 2.9 but still held a 26-point three quarter-time buffer, 11.15 to 8.7.
The Power issued a last-ditch press but couldn't cash in, kicking 1.4 - they were 16 points down with 10 minutes remaining.
But GWS forward Jake Riccardi snapped Port's spirit with a long-range set-shot from near a boundary line before skipper Greene rubber-stamped victory with his third goal.
