A 28-POINT loss to Richmond in Mount Gambier has the Power at 0-2 in the JLT Community Series, after a sluggish second term put paid to their hopes on Sunday.
Port started best, with a high-pressure quarter opening a five-point lead at the first change.
There was plenty for local supporters to like too, with the imposing presence of Paddy Ryder in the early ruck contests and young Sam Powell-Pepper bullocking through packs to help the Power to the early lead.
But the Tigers reversed the momentum after quarter time and blasted from the centre to boot six goals to Port's one.
Richmond's pressure effected 6.8 from turnovers by the end of the game, with the Power unable to split the middle in the final term.
Power draftee Sam Powell-Pepper showed strength in the contest far beyond his years and seems a strong chance to be named in the side for round one, although a botched handball in the third term allowed the speedy Dan Butler to boot a goal.
It was a relatively quiet start to 2017 for Robbie Gray as he notched up eight disposals after he had his workload managed against St Kilda last week.
Paddy Ryder had the better of Toby Nankervis in the ruck contests but the new Tiger was clearly the better man around the ground, finishing with 15 touches, five marks and a goal to Ryder's five touches and one mark.
However, Matthew Lobbe was not overly influential either, giving Ken Hinkley something else to think about before the season begins.
An interesting tactic from Port Adelaide saw it start the match with no wingmen, with those players instead lining up from the back of the square, reminiscent of the dying minutes of the 2014 preliminary final loss to Hawthorn.
Port Adelaide's final JLT Community Series game is against Hawthorn at 12.40pm (ACDT) on Sunday 12 March.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 0.3.2 0.4.3 0.7.4 0.7.9 (51)
RICHMOND 0.2.3 0.8.6 0.9.10 0.11.13 (79)
portadelaidefc.com.au’s best
Wines, Powell-Pepper, Clurey, Houston, Atley
Goals
Impey, Dixon, S. Gray, Polec, Westhoff, Eddy, Atley
Injuries
Pittard (TBC), Wingard (TBC)
Crowd
4649 at Malseed Park
