PORT ADELAIDE has come away from Unley Oval empty handed as it succumbed to Sturt by 31 points.

Sturt set up its victory with a nine-goal-to-one opening half, with Port putting in a second half resurgence of sorts but it ultimately coming too late.

The Magpies were put under considerable pressure by the Double Blues in the opening quarter, where they kicked five unanswered goals.

Sturt burst out of the blocks, and despite the scrappy start, it was the first side to score through Abe Davis, yet it was a behind.

The Magpies looked competitive early, with Nick Moore having his own set shot, which also missed.

However, it was when the Double Blues began to assert their dominance on the contest.

Malachy Carruthers kicked the first of the game and was followed up by James Mathews, who dinked it home with a chip kick.

Sturt was dominating proceedings, leading the inside 50s 6-2 and the clearances 6-1 inside the first 10 minutes.

Port had no response to Sturt’s control of the game, with Davis kicking his first after a holding the ball decision.

A kick to a contest led to a turnover, which resulted in a centred kick and goal from Tom Lewis to blow the margin out to 25 points.

The Double Blues completed the first quarter domination through Josh Rentsch’s first, and they led by 32 points at the first break.

Despite the deficit, Port began to slow Sturt’s run and have opportunities of its own, with Sam Hayes missing narrowly to the right from a towering kick from 50.

In similar fashion to the first quarter, the Double Blues soon broke the deadlock as they were able to counter with precision.

Lachlan Burrows got on the scoresheet, Tom Emmett had a double, as did Davis and the margin was out to 57 points.

The Magpies were being considerably beaten around the ground except in the hit-outs, but they had improved in the midfield from the first.

They soon got their breakthrough deep in the second, when Mitch Georgiades marked, played on with speed and kicked a centring ball, which was marked by Nick Moore.

Moore went back and converted on the angle to cut the deficit to 51 points at the main change.

However, it was the start of a run for the Magpies.

They started with a quick burst, but were unable to find the big sticks with two quick behinds.

Yet, Orazio Fantasia capitalised on a turnover out of defence and buried the finish giving the Magpies back-to-back goals.

It was dejavu as another defensive lapse from the Double Blues enabled skipper Cam Sutcliffe to compose himself going inside forward 50 and found the leading Georgiades.

The forward went back and converted, which made the Sturt faithful restless.

The Magpies had found form and were coming hard, and Sutcliffe turned from provider to scorer as he had his own set shot on the boundary from the 50-metre arc and sent it home.

With the margin back to 31 points, Port continued to push hard and had plenty of run.

Josh Sinn crumbed a ball in the southern end pocket and snapped, but it bounced into the post.

The game was in the balance despite the margin, and Sturt put its foot down to accelerate away.

Emmett kicked his third against the run of play, and Davis was the beneficiary of a 25-metre penalty for his third and the margin blew back out to 42 points.

Both Dylan Williams and Aidan Turner missed shots in deep in the third and the Magpies trailed by 41 points at the final change.

The last term started as the third ended, with the Magpies missing two shots, this time through Sam Mayes and Georgiades.

The Double Blues made them pay through Oliver Grivell and the margin was out to 45 points.

Burrows added his second moments later, but there was a highlight for Aidan Turner, who received a free kick in the pocket and converted.

Georgiades added his second after taking the advantage from a Josh Sinn free kick and snapping it home.

Visentini added some consolation after the siren with a beautiful set shot.

Sutcliffe had 24 touches to go with his goal, while Jackson Mead racked up 27 with seven marks.

SCOREBOARD

Sturt                5.4       9.6       11.7     13.7     (85)

Port Adelaide   0.2       1.3       4.8       7.12     (54)

Port Adelaide

Goals: Georgiades 2, N. Moore, Fantasia, Sutcliffe, Turner, Visentini.

Best: Mead, Visentini, Skinner, Mayes, Dumont.