PORT ADELAIDE has closed its pre-season with a disappointing 31-point loss to a Nat Fyfe-inspired Fremantle outfit.

In a game that started in sweltering heat at Fremantle Oval and ended in cooler but more humid conditions after a period of rain, the sides remained close on the scoreboard until the Dockers kicked away in the final term.

Dual Brownlow medallist Fyfe, who booted three goals in last Friday's match simulation against Adelaide, built on that performance with another three against the Port Adelaide and a game-high eight score involvements, finishing his pre-season in fine style.

DOCKERS v PORT ADELAIDE Full match coverage and stats

It was Fyfe's ability to turn half chances into goals that made him such a weapon on Thursday, with the former midfielder kicking all three goals from general play and feeding more to teammates as the Dockers prevailed 13.14 (92) to 8.13 (61).

The Dockers built their win on Thursday through control of the stoppages, winning the clearances 39-33 as ruckman Sean Darcy (38 hit-outs and five clearances) asserted his will on the contest.

The Dockers had first look out of the centre for most of the night winning 39 clearances to 33.

The ground-level brigade was led by Will Brodie (36 disposals and nine clearances) as stars Andrew Brayshaw (36 and three) and Caleb Serong (32 and eight) tuned up for round one with typically hard-nosed performances.

There were nervous moments early for the Dockers, however, who had a tendency to overuse the ball in the first half and missed targets when they were taking dangerous options.

The Power, by comparison, played a surge game that looked dangerous when their dynamic midfielders were involved, with Connor Rozee (25 and seven clearances) the pick of them.

The visitors cut the margin to nine points halfway through the final term but faded as the Dockers kicked four unanswered goals to blow the margin out.

Coach Ken Hinkley said his side, which was often caught on the back foot as the Dockers handballed out of congestion, had been outplayed around the ball.

"We need to be better than we performed today," Hinkley said.

"It's not so much concern because that's what trial games are about. They give you information and we've got to do something with the information.

“Defensively they got through us a bit easily but mind you, a couple of those we gave up when we were pushing really hard and the game blew out a bit.

“They got a couple out the back but normally we defend pretty well.

"We've got a lot to learn, but I'm sure we can learn a lot. Come round one we'll be right. We won't have an excuse. We'll be ready to go.

Sam Powell-Pepper and Francis Evans both impressed with two goals each, the latter having only been introduced into the game at three-quarter time, while Hinkley was also pleased with the contributions made by Kane Farrell in defence and Miles Bergman on the wing.

However for the second week in a row, Port finished ahead in the inside 50 count, recording 58 to Fremantle’s 45 but failing to convert on the scoreboard.

Hinkley lamented his side’s inaccuracy and inefficiency, but said it was about a new forward group continuing to play together and build understanding with the rest of the side.

“We know we’re generating enough chances but we know we’ve got some work to go,” he explained.

“But I think that’s around putting pieces out there together. Again, we had Rioli and Boak not out there today, we had Dixon for the first time. We just need to get them spending time together quickly.

“When we did go, when we moved the ball with some speed, we were pretty good. The difference was we didn’t finish going inside 50 with some better looks, and they were able to finish.”

New faces
It was a mixed bag for Port's Jason Horne-Francis, who had some dynamic moments in the front half and showed how dangerous he can be on the burst but also found himself caught unaware of opposition pressure on a number of occasions. Francis Evans, who joined from Geelong in the off-season, kicked two late goals and looked dangerous inside 50.

Medical room
Power forward Mitch Georgiades suffered cramp after leaving the field during the third quarter to be assessed. There was a scare for Orazio Fantasia, who was proppy in the opening quarter after being cleaned up in a heavy collision, but he was able to play on, with no other concerns. The Dockers were still short of full strength, with ruckman Luke Jackson (head knock), defender Luke Ryan (back), and forwards Michael Frederick (quad) and Michael Walters (Achilles) among those missing on Thursday. Meanwhile, key defender Brennan Cox increased his game time after recovering from a recent knee issue. For the Power, midfielder Travis Boak (ribs) and forward recruit Junior Rioli (illness) were missing as Charlie Dixon (ribs), Zak Butters (shoulder) and Darcy Byrne-Jones (back) played their first pre-season games for the year.

FREMANTLE              2.3   5.9   8.13  13.14 (92)
PORT ADELAIDE       2.2   4.3    5.9    8.13  (61)  
 
GOALS
Fremantle: Fyfe 3, Treacy 2, Switkowski 2, Sturt 2, Cox, O'Meara, Taberner
Port Adelaide: Powell-Pepper 2, Evans 2, Bergman, Dixon, Fantasia, McKenzie
 
BEST
Fremantle: Fyfe, Darcy, Brodie, Serong, Brayshaw, Cox, Pearce
Port Adelaide: Rozee, Bergman, Powell-Pepper, Wines, Duursma, Horne-Francis
 
INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Port Adelaide: Nil