1. The most brutal - and best - game of 2015 so far
The opening term was played an incredible rate, with plenty of physicality. That made for a busy start to the evening for the club medicos, particularly the Kangaroos' contingent. Jack Ziebell headlined a number of injury concerns for the first quarter, being taken to hospital for chest scans after a heavy knock midway through the opening term in a marking contest with Ollie Wines. Then his teammate Sam Wright was on the end of a big clash with Alipate Carlile and needed treatment in the changerooms, while Todd Goldstein was out there with a sore finger. Port Adelaide's medical team wasn't spared either – Tom Jones copped a high hit and required some attention with a sore jaw. Later, in the last term, a sore Wines was subbed out of the game with a wrist injury seeing him sit out the end of a brilliant eight-point Power win.
2. 'Goldy' gets the big man honours
Todd Goldstein entered the game as one of the in-form ruckmen in the competition, having been excellent in North Melbourne's opening fortnight. Paddy Ryder started the game with plenty of extra responsibility, in the third week Port Adelaide has been without injured ruckman Matthew Lobbe. The contest between the big men shaped as one which would have a broader impact on the result. Goldstein claimed the points in his individual battle with Ryder, having more of an impact around the ground (13 disposals and six tackles) and also having the clear edge in hit-outs (49 to Ryder's 35). Ryder's night might have been a little better had he hung onto the ball after a huge flying attempted mark in the second term, but he fumbled it on the way down to ground.
3. Which Roos filled the void?
The absence of injured veteran Nick Dal Santo (hamstring) and late withdrawal of Daniel Wells (Achilles) meant the Kangaroos required some midfielders to step up. Ryan Bastinac was recalled to the senior side after being dropped following round one and played through the midfield. He gathered 18 disposals and kicked a goal, and also limited Travis Boak's influence at stages. Sam Gibson's relentless run was solid and he found plenty of the ball (28 disposals) but at times his use by foot was costly going forward. Up forward, Ben Brown outshone his fellow key targets with three goals in another straight-kicking display.
4. Port avoids history lesson
No team in the past 20 years has been able to resurrect a 0-3 start to the season and go on to make the Grand Final that year. That equation stared Port Adelaide in the face after two losses to open the season, but the Power were able to avoid a winless start to the year by overcoming North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night. After their tight preliminary defeat to Hawthorn last year, and the acquisition of Ryder, Ken Hinkley's men started the season as one of the premiership favourites. Recent history suggests if a team drops its opening three games it can all but forget playing in the Grand Final, so Port will be glad it is off the mark in 2015. It has also now faced three of last year's top six teams (Fremantle, the Sydney Swans and North Melbourne), but the tasks don't get it easier. Next week, they have the Hawks.
5. Lindsay lights it up
When Matthew Broadbent kicked a long goal 13 minutes into the final term, it put Port Adelaide in the lead by 15 points and with all the control. But Lindsay Thomas had other ideas. Already with two goals (one that came before Broadbent's major), Thomas booted two more in minute to put the Roos ahead by four points at the 21-minute mark of the final term. Thomas can be criticised for his theatrics, but he is a renowned and reliable goalkicker who enjoys having the ball when it matters. North's lead was soon gone after a running goal from Port's Aaron Young, before Kane Mitchell sealed the eight-point win with a calm set shot.
