Port Adelaide’s new AFL era has started with a 79-point thumping of Melbourne at the MCG.
The Demons were terrible in the second half and the Power tore them apart, winning 19.19 (133) to 8.6 (54).
On Sunday’s performance, Melbourne face another long season and their fans booed their team at three-quarter time and after the final siren.
Port midfielder Hamish Hartlett was outstanding and Jay Schulz kicked four goals.
It was an ideal start for the new Port regime, with coach Ken Hinkley, captain Travis Boak and president David Koch all appointed in the off-season.
Melbourne fell away horribly in the third term, only managing one behind as Port scored 5.6.
The Demons also gave away an interchange infringement and key forward Mitch Clark limped off the field with an ankle injury.
Clark started the last term, but only lasted five minutes before he was subbed out of the game.
Jordan McKenzie’s accurate snap four minutes into the last term was their first goal since Cam Pedersen’s at 26 minutes in the second quarter.
Pedersen took a big mark before his goal, but it came under video review because the ball hit the post immediately after the former North player’s grab.
The mark was cleared and he goaled from an acute angle.
Earlier in the second term, Port’s Jay Schulz also came under video review for a towering mark on the goal line.
The kick from Brad Ebert would have been a goal regardless and the ball appeared to be over the line before Schulz took his big grab.
But the mark was allowed to stand, meaning Schulz is an early contender for mark of the year.
Port led from the start, kicking the first three goals and putting Melbourne under intense pressure.
The Demons had to wait for nearly six minutes in the game before their first field kick.
High-profile debutant Jack Viney was outstanding early and the midfielder did a lot to keep the Demons in the contest.
Port Adelaide onballer Ollie Wines also impressed in his first AFL match.