HERE are some of the important take-outs from Port Adelaide's gutsy 10-point win over Melbourne on Friday night at Adelaide Oval.

  1. Tom Jonas is a very good defender. We knew that already, but he underlined it, made it bold and highlighted it for the rest of the competition against Melbourne. He had 20 disposals, three tackles and a game-high eleven marks but it was his 12 spoils that showed his real value. Only Dougal Howard – Port Adelaide’s one-percenter King – had more (14) on the night. Jonas is also a backline general and ensured that along with his defensive teammates, the Demons were repelled at every opportunity.

  2. While we are talking of defence, the Power’s backline can withstand remarkable pressure. In the face of 68 inside 50s to 39, Port still managed to find a win. It took the Demons 12 inside 50s to score their first goal in the first term and 15 inside 50s to kick their first goal of the second quarter. Port’s team defence and young backline hung tough in the game, managing to restrict Melbourne, the league’s highest-scoring team, to its lowest total of the season.

  3. Sam Powell-Pepper can tackle. The 20-year-old didn’t have a huge impact in terms of disposals but he left a few bruised Demons after Friday night’s game. He had a game-high 17 tackles – more than any other player this season, and a new Port Adelaide club-record. Powell-Pepper also had 15 disposals and two marks to go with three clearances.

  4. Melbourne does not like playing Friday night footy away from home. Since 1991 the Demons have played nine matches away from Melbourne on a Friday night and lost all nine. Friday’s loss to the Power was their first interstate Friday night match since 2006, but it is still an interesting statistic, especially when you consider the Demons had won four from four interstate this season ahead of Friday night.

  5. Port Adelaide can win without winning the contested statistic. In fact, Port Adelaide lost most of the statistics, including contested possessions 177-158, Inside 50s 68-39 and clearances 54-38. The Power has won five of its last six matches and has finished ahead in the contested possession tally in each of those games except Friday night’s clash with the Demons. Ollie Wines led the way in the contested ball statistic with 18 contested possessions on a night where two of the better contested ball teams faced off.

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