TOUGH, HARD football is what Port Adelaide prides itself on, but there was none of that in the pressure-cooker of Showdown 40 on Saturday afternoon.
At no point did the Power look competitive, nor live up to its pre-season promise of playing a traditional brand of 'tough and hard' club football as the Crows marched to a 73-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.
They finished 58-point winners.
Only through some opportunistic could Aaron Young help prevent a record Showdown loss, with his third and fourth majors for the afternoon steering Port away from an imposing final deficit.
Port entered the early season installation of the South Australian derby with three players out of the side that defeated St Kilda by 33 points the week prior, but it was no excuse with the Crows winning almost every position on the day.
Adelaide's first half rampage - where it enjoyed nine consecutive goals at one point - was crafted through unchecked running freedom and unmatched desire at the contest.
Port was caught napping with Crows able to fly in front and take uncontested marks and then stream into attack with few worries as it proceeded to kick just under half its score from stoppages.
The rest of its score was built through punishing the Power's turnovers across the ground - skills again a concern for a Port Adelaide team that tracked at 50% efficiency by foot for the day.
The Power had chances going forward, but a panicked kick into attack or long bomb to double or triple-teamed target undid its chances to dent the scoreboard.
Rarely did the Power show its preferred running game, instead it was left to chase tails for most of the afternoon.
Robbie Gray had 37 touches and was Port's only star, while Ollie Wines toiled hard through the centre.
The result leaves the Power sitting outside the top eight after two rounds, and due to confront an Essendon side coming off a 13-point win over Melbourne.
That game will be held at 7.20pm (ACDT) on Friday 8 April at the Adelaide Oval.
AS IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER
Adelaide dominated the early game with almost twice Port Adelaide's possession.
The Power never looked in the contest, Adelaide having numbers at the fall of the ball and transitioning with handball out of the middle with swift handball.
Josh Jenkins and Eddie Betts wreaked havoc to kick two goals apiece, with Boak the only Power player able to convert up forward.
Dougal Howard fights for the ball in the first half. He kicked his first AFL goal in the second term. [pic: AFL Media]
SECOND QUARTER
Port Adelaide's horror story kept coming, and it was from the same combinations in attack - Walker with two, Lynch with three in the third term.
The Power made life easy for the Crows forwards too. If it wasn't letting the Crows get first use of the ball, it was turnovers in defence, or allowing the Crows space on the fat side of the ground to run into attack.
Adelaide's ninth consecutive goal - Josh Jenkins's third - put the Crows 60 points up, and the limp Power to the sword.
Dougal Howard forced a contest deep in the goal square from one of the Power's few wins at the centre bounce to kick his first AFL goal over his head.
He was then followed by Chad Wingard and Ollie Wines kicking consecutive majors to close the gap further.
But the Crows continued to respond with goals to Mitch McGovern and Josh Jenkins's fourth undoing the Power's good work.
THIRD QUARTER
After being smashed in every aspect of the game, the Power's intensity lifted from the opening bounce as it proceeded to put its best 30-second passage of play together for the afternoon.
Having tracked at 50% effectiveness by foot and a marginally better 62% overall efficiency in the first half, the Power's use of the ball was key to its early response.
Goals to Wines and Young gave Port first taste of goal, but the Crows kept finding ways to bring its lead back, with Eddie Betts kicking three goals in the term, while Tom Lynch converted his fifth and sixth.
The Crows had extended a 67-point lead at three-quarter time.
FOURTH QUARTER
The Crows rallied from the start of the final term to push out to a game-high 73-point lead halfway through the third quarter.
Aaron Young continued a steady return to AFL football by booting four goals, including an ambitious attempt from outside 50 to trickle his fourth across the line.
His ability to score late in the game helped the Power avoid a record Showdown loss.
Robbie Gray capped his 37-disposal performance with Port's final goal of the game.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 1.2 4.8 7.12 11.20 (86)
ADELAIDE CROWS 6.4 13.5 19.7 22.12 (144)
PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU’S BEST
R. Gray, Wines, Young
GOALS
Young 4, Wines, Boak 2, Howard, Wingard, R. Gray
INJURIES
TBC
SHOWDOWN MEDAL
Tom Lynch (Adelaide Crows)
CROWD
51,585 at the Adelaide Oval
