CAPTAIN Connor Rozee has led Port Adelaide to an emphatic 72-point thrashing of Richmond in an about-face of fortunes for the two clubs.

Rozee was superb with 39 disposals and two goals in the Power's 21.14 (140) to 9.14 (68) victory on Saturday at Adelaide Oval.

After last week copping its heaviest loss in 13 seasons under coach Ken Hinkley - a 91-point drubbing from Collingwood - Rozee was pivotal in the Power's on-field response.

In contrast, the Tigers, after an upset triumph over Carlton in round one, fell flat and were never in the hunt.

Richmond conceded the initial three goals in 10 minutes as Port, fired by Rozee and ex-skipper Travis Boak, set a dominant tone.

The Power led 6.6 to 1.3 at quarter-time, with Rozee collecting a dozen disposals, while 36-year-old Boak gathered 10 touches for the term in yet another milestone match.

Boak featured in his 393rd official game for the Power, breaking the club's record for most games, held by SANFL legend Russell Ebert for 45 years.

Port's healthy quarter-time advantage came despite losing recruit Jack Lukosius, who was substituted with a knee injury.

The Power peeled off another seven majors in the second stanza to boost its lead to 65 points at half-time.

The spree included a stunner from Sam Powell-Pepper who, from 40 metres out and treading on the boundary line, converted on the run.

Richmond slipped 84 points behind midway through the third term when Rozee converted a set shot, but the visitors showed some belated pluck by booting three of the next four goals.

However, Port then kicked away again to lead by 81 points at the final change, before closing out their resounding win.

Power forward Mitch Georgiades booted four goals, Willie Rioli and Powell-Pepper slotted three each, and Jase Burgoyne (two goals, 32 disposals) was a standout.

Rozee's dynamic display included seven clearances and six inside-50s, Boak finished with 28 touches, and Jackson Mead (30), half-back Kane Farrell (31) and Ollie Wines (33) were prolific ball-winners.

Richmond's second-gamer Harry Armstrong kicked two goals, as did Seth Campbell, and midfielder Jacob Hopper was the visitors' chief ball-getter with 24 disposals.

Pepper adds more than just a bit of bite
Power hard man Sam Powell-Pepper is an often underrated force for his team, so when he missed most of 2024 with a knee injury the Power lost not only a lot of its muscle, but also its heart. Like many of his teammates Powell-Pepper was pretty much ineffective against Collingwood in round one, but he was on fire against Richmond and set the ground alight in the second quarter with a magnificent goal from the boundary. 

Stats can lie, but there's no comeback to these
Richmond fans came into 2025 with development of young players their main concern, so when their side fell 41 points behind Carlton in round one a win was never on their minds. Then things changed, but not for long. The Tigers trailed by 65 points at half-time on Saturday, but more telling were the stats at the long break, down 257 disposals to 141. The second half saw a much more efficient effort but they still finished the match 180 disposals in arrears. Everyone is expecting a yellow and black rollercoaster this season, and this sort of deep dip will have even the faithful gulping for breath.

PORT ADELAIDE   6.6    13.11    19.13    21.14 (140)
RICHMOND          1.3      3.6       6.10      9.14 (68)

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Georgiades 4, Powell-Pepper 3, Rioli 3, Rozee 2, Burgoyne 2, Wines, Richards, Horne-Francis, Farrell, Evans, Byrne-Jones, Berry
Richmond: Armstrong 2, Campbell 2, McIntosh, Lalor, Fawcett, Blight, Bauer

BEST
Port Adelaide: Rozee, Powell-Pepper, Burgoyne, Farrell, Drew, Georgiades
Richmond: Mansell, Blight, Hopper, Armstrong, Campbell

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Lukosius (knee)
Richmond: Banks (concussion)

SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Christian Moraes, replaced Jack Lukosius in the first quarter
Richmond: Kaleb Smith, replaced Sam Banks in the second quarter

Crowd: 37,342 at Adelaide Oval