Port Adelaide have withstood a fight back from the Kangaroos to win by 14 points in the wet at AAMI Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The home side ran away to lead by as much as 50 points during the third term but took their foot off the pedal as North Melbourne, under new coach Brad Scott, booted the last three goals of the quarter.
The experienced heads in the Port Adelaide midfield dominated the stoppages restricting the visitors inside 50’s in the first half. Kane Cornes lead the disposals picking up 39 touches, while Boak and Salopek found plenty of the ball across the ground.
North Melbourne lifted in the final quarter and managed to penetrate the Port Adelaide defence. Roos Captain Brent Harvey goaled early and when forward Lindsay Thomas kicked two in a row the margin was cut to 27 points. Two late goals from Hamish McIntosh weren’t enough as the Power held on to win their opening game of the season.
Port Adelaide – 5.4, 10.10, 11.15, 13.18 (96)
North Melbourne – 2.1, 4.2, 7.5, 12.10 (82)
Goals
Port Adelaide: Hitchcock 2, Pearce 2, Ebert 2, Tredrea 2, Thomas, Cassisi, Westhoff, Banner, Davenport
North Melbourne: Harvey 3, Warren 2, Hale 2, Thomas 2, McIntosh 2, Adams
Best
Port Adelaide: Hitchcock, Brogan, Kane Cornes, Cassisi, Boak, Ebert
North Melbourne: Harvey, Rawlings, Hansen, Ziebell
Injuries
Port Adelaide: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Findlay, Avon
Official crowd: 21,205 at AAMI Stadium
Dreamteam – Top 5
Liam Anthony – 132
Kane Cornes – 131
Brett Ebert – 111
Travis Boak – 98
Brent Harvey – 93
