Port Adelaide has shown it could be a serious premiership contender this year with a cracking 23-point win over Sydney at the SCG on Sunday.
Tough midfielder Ollie Wines starred for the visitors with 35 possessions and 12 clearances, while power forward Charlie Dixon had a significant presence in the ruck for the Power after half-time, when the Power kicked seven goals to the Swans' two in the third quarter.
The returning Robbie Gray was another of Port's big names to have a massive impact with 26 disposals, 10 tackles and a goal, while youngster Todd Marshall booted three majors in the 14.10 (94) to 10.11 (71) result.
Sydney's experienced leaders in Jarrad McVeigh, Luke Parker and Josh Kennedy found plenty of the footy, but while superstar Lance Franklin kicked four goals, he had very little assistance and was his team's only multiple goal scorer.
The Swans dominated every aspect of the opening term but despite winning the inside-50 count (20-7) and the clearances (15-6) easily, they failed to convert their opportunities into scoreboard pressure, and led by just eight points at the first change.
Port increased its intensity after quarter-time when Dixon started to have more influence in the ruck, and Wines got to work around stoppages, but the home side responded every time the visitors got close, and a set shot goal to midfielder Harry Cunningham after the siren gave them a 14-point advantage at the long break.
With first-half goals extremely hard to come by for both sides, Port captain Travis Boak snagged two in a minute to inspire his team to open the third quarter.
After being virtually unsighted for most of the night Steven Motlop got involved with his run important, and young forward Marshall booted a couple in a row as the Power seized control of the game with a seven-goal term.
The Swans trailed by 15 points with a quarter to play and needed something to re-ignite the home crowd, and it was little surprise that Franklin was the man to do it with a brilliant snap across his body, and another for Dean Towers got John Longmire's men to within a goal seven minutes into the term.
The tough contest resumed for the next eight minutes until a controversial 50m penalty was paid against the Swans for encroaching on the protected zone, and Jared Polec kicked his second goal of the night, before Sam Powell-Pepper and Riley Bonner added a couple more to put the result beyond doubt.
MEDICAL ROOM
Sydney: Returning Swan Dan Hannebery spent the final minutes on the bench getting treatment after teammate Dean Towers fell across his left knee.
Port Adelaide: the good news continued for the visitors with all 22 players getting through unscathed.
NEXT UP
The Swans are at home again next Saturday night when they host the Giants at the SCG for the season's first Sydney derby, while Port faces Brisbane at Adelaide oval on Saturday.
SYDNEY 2.4 6.6 8.10 10.11 (71)
PORT ADELAIDE 1.2 4.4 11.7 14.10 (94)
GOALS
Sydney: Franklin 4, Parker, Hayward, Papley, Cunningham, Heeney, Towers
Port Adelaide: Marshall 3, Boak 2, Wingard 2, Polec 2, Wines, Powell-Pepper Motlop, R.Gray, Bonner
BEST
Sydney: Kennedy, Franklin, Parker, McVeigh, Smith, Florent
Port Adelaide: Wines, R.Gray, Marshall, Dixon, Westhoff, Boak
INJURIES
Sydney: Jones (calf) replaced in selected side by Fox, Hannebery (knee)
Port Adelaide: TBC
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Haussen, Stephens
Official crowd: 34,636 at the SCG
