KEN Hinkley said Port Adelaide's ability to withstand pressure football would define its credentials in 2015.
If so, Port Adelaide has passed one of the most intense tests it will face against traditional bogey side North Melbourne.
Confronted by a club it rarely enjoys success against, at one of its worst-performing venues in the country, Port withstood the anguish and brutality of a repeated North onslaught to prevail by a slender eight points on Saturday night.
The result certainly atoned for an poor display against Sydney last week, and reversed the ledger for another brutal encounter to open the season against Fremantle a fortnight ago.
In a nail-biting game, momentum - and the lead - swung like a pendulum, and Port and North crashed and bashed their way through four brutal quarters.
Just when the Power looked to have gripped the ascendency of the game, North hit back - hard.
Twice the Roos slammed the goals home in burst periods, starting the third term with four consecutive majors, only to have the Power work its way back out.
The blue-and-white owned the ball for much of the game, but Port's effectiveness at crucial moments - the key points Hinkley last week said his side needed to win - won out.
Winning clearances by four, inside-50s by three and having 18 fewer disposals isn't much, but it counts in crucial games.
Four goals to Jay Schulz and trebles to Matt White and Brad Ebert were crucial in the Power's fortunes on the night, but it was the defensive rebound offered by Matthew Broadbent and Jasper Pittard that proved essential throughout the night.
When the chips were down, the Power's running legs stood up - Pittard and Broadbent exemplified that all night long.
Few could fault either's performance on the night - Pittard was strong in defence and Broadbent suffered early leather poisoning.
Ebert, in his 150th AFL game, played across half-forward and was masterful with both his ball-use and ability to create pressure.
One of his goals was earned through a brutal tackle on Cunnington - embodying the nature of the game.
Winning the 50/50 contest was so important on the night, resulting in plenty of knocks and sore bodies leaving the field in a war of attrition.
North's Jack Ziebell was subbed out of the game early, while Sam Wright was forced from the field in the opening quarter.
The Power wasn't without its share of injury worries either, with Ollie Wines also substituted with a wrist injury, while Matt White rolled an ankle.
The victory adds much-needed fat to the Power's ladder position ahead of Saturday's ANZAC Day clash against reigning premiers Hawthorn.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 3.3 8.6 12.9 17.11 (113)
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.0 5.4 11.7 16.9 (105)
PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU’S BEST
Ebert, Broadbent, Pittard, Schulz, Hartlett, Boak, Carlile, Monfries, Gray
GOALS
Schulz 4, White, Ebert 3, Monfries 2, Pittard, Wingard, Broadbent, Young, Mitchell
INJURIES
Wines (wrist), White (rolled ankle)
SUBSTITUTE
Brendon Ah Chee replaced Ollie Wines in the fourth quarter
CROWD
22,586 at Etihad Stadium
