The Swans started each quarter brightly, kicking the opening goal in every stanza, but could not match the Power's speed or pressure through the midfield.
The young Swans, who were missing several of their more established players including forwards Barry Hall and Michael O'Loughlin, eventually went down 4.16.11 (143) to 1.10.8 (77).
It was a run of seven goals in the second quarter that set up the victory for Port Adelaide. After goals by Adam Goodes and Jarrad McVeigh had put the Swans' noses in front early in the term, the Power ignited blasting their way to a 48-point lead at half time.
The Swans rallied in the third term with their own run of four goals in a row, but a towering nine-point effort from Power ruckman Brendon Lade -- his team's fourth for the afternoon -- ended any hope of an unlikely comeback.
But positives were not hard to find for the Swans coaching staff. Former Magpie Rhyce Shaw made an encouraging debut in the red and white with 16 quality disposals.
McVeigh (four goals, 16 disposals) was outstanding, showing that he is ready to join the elite level of AFL midfielders. Young key position prospect Jesse White also showed promise, particularly when thrown forward. White recovered well after copping a heavy knock from the Power's Daniel Motlop late in the first quarter, for which Motlop was reported.
Canadian rugby convert Mike Pyke had a lean afternoon from a statistical point of view, but his athletic potential was on display for all to see.
Ryan Brabazon left the field on a stretcher after hitting his head on the Manuka Oval turf. McVeigh appeared to be suffering some hamstring tightness late in the final quarter but ran out the match without any obvious difficulty.
Port Adelaide will now face Geelong in the quarter-finals of the NAB Cup on Saturday, with the Swans to play Melbourne in the NAB Challenge series.
Sydney Swans 1.1.3 1.3.6 1.7.7 1.10.9 (78)
Port Adelaide 1.3.2 3.8.6 4.11.8 4.16.11 (143)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Nine-point goals: C. Bolton Goals: McVeigh 4, O'Dwyer, Goodes, J Bolton, R. O'Keefe, Jolly, White
Port Adelaide: Nine-point goals: Pearce, Meyer, Logan, Lade Goals: Westhoff 4, Tredrea 3, Thompson 3, D. Motlop 2, C. Cornes, Ebert, Cassisi, Davenport
BEST
Sydney Swans: Shaw, R. O'Keefe, McVeigh, Kirk
Port Adelaide: Cassisi, Tredrea, D. Motlop, Thompson, Pearce, Boak, Westhoff
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Brabazon (concussion)
Port Adelaide: Nil
Reports: D. Motlop (Port Adelaide) reported for charging Jesse White (Sydney Swans) in the first quarter by umpire Nicholls
Umpires: Chamberlain, Nicholls, Gestier, Jennings
Crowd: 5397 at Manuka Oval
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
