The Power honoured their former teammate John McCarthy with a 19.20 (134) to 11.12 (78) victory at AAMI Stadium.
Port vice-captain Brad Ebert epitomised a night of high emotion when, after kicking the match-sealing goal, he repeatedly kissed the black arm-band he wore in respect for his great mate McCarthy.
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Moving tributes were held pre-match for McCarthy, who died at a Las Vegas casino complex last September while on an end of season trip with some Port Adelaide teammates.
McCarthy's Victorian-based family were among the 25,122-strong crowd.
Following a moving tribute shared by that crowd before the Power players ran through a banner jointly acknowledging Ebert's milestone and McCarthy, and a minute's silence, the business of a football match got underway.
The Power were sluggish to begin with and conceded four of the first five goals as the Giants opened up an 11-point buffer at the first change.
But Port responded quickly and effectively settled the match with a 15 minute surge in the second quarter which reaped six consecutive goals.
Utility Justin Westhoff was best afield with five goals, Chad Wingard booted three and experienced trio Ebert, Travis Boak and Kane Cornes formed an effective midfield.
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Port's second term scoring spree - holding GWS scoreless in the process - allowed the home side to take a 25-point break at half time.
GWS were made able to stay in the game by virtue of the Power's seven consecutive points in the third term.
It left the crowd restless for a circuit-breaker, but it came with the Giants' 2012 #1 draft pick Lachie Whitfield booting his career-first goal.
But it was young pocket rocket Jake Neade who combined with fellow indigenous footballer Chad Wingard to give Port Adelaide another spurt heading into the final change.
Creating opportunities seemingly from nothing Neade twice dished the ball to Wingard in two separate plays to deliver the latter's second and third goals of the evening.
A string of five majors after three quarter time put the result beyond doubt; the Power's score of 19.20 (134) a point higher than its Round 1 total against Melbourne.
Port Adelaide now enjoys a long break of seven days before its next match against Adelaide in Balfours Showdown XXXIV.
portadelaidefc.com.au will have continued video highlights and match reviews following the match, including a comprehensive injury report and further highlights on Monday.
Final scoreboard
PORT ADELAIDE 2.5 8.9 12.17 19.20 (134) defeated
GWS 4.4 6.5 8.9 11.12 (79)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Westhoff 5, Wingard 3, Broadbent, Neade 2, Schulz, O'Shea, Boak, Hartlett, Stewart, Ebert, Mitchell
GWS: Cameron 3, Shiel, Giles, Coniglio, Patton, Whitfield, Treloar, Brogan, Smith
BEST
Port Adelaide: Westhoff, Wingard, Neade, Pittard, Cornes, Stevenson
GWS: Whitfield, Cameron, Ward, Shiel, Coniglio, Treloar
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Hartlett (back), Schulz (ankle)
GWS: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Kane Mitchell replaced Jay Schulz at three-quarter time.
GWS: Will Hoskin-Elliott replaced Stephen Gilham in the third quarter.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fila, Hay, Pannell
Official crowd: 25,122 at AAMI Stadium
