PORT ADELAIDE has suffered a second-straight loss, this time at the hands of a clinical Richmond outfit at the MCG.
The Tigers proved to be too strong on their home deck, being more efficient and dominating field position, on their way to a 38 point win.
The last time the Tigers beat the Power at the MCG was 21 years ago and they started strongly as they sought to correct that statistic.
With the first three goals and all of the momentum, it was left to teenager Zak Butters to get the visiting side back into the game with two goals in 90 seconds – the second a wonderful snap after some good pressure inside forward 50.
Richmond got the next two goals of the quarter through fortunate free kicks. The first saw a fumbling Jack Riewoldt given a lucky free kick in the goal square for a push in the back and the second a bizarre call against Justin Westhoff who tried to prevent a ball going out on the full and was punished for his fist into the crowd with a 50 metre penalty against him.
With an 18-point deficit at the first change and with a tricky swirling breeze slightly favouring their end in the second term, the Power worked hard early but conceded yet another goal to Riewoldt who was in the right place at the right time to collect a loose handpass and snap his second.
Charlie Dixon responded from outside 50 within a minute after a strong mark and a neat snap by Karl Amon after Dixon grabbed the ball out of the ruck and gave it to him had the Power within two goals.
The Power’s pressure was telling and it was winning the territory battle, but a missed tackle on half forward saw the Tigers fly forward and when Mabior Chol trapped Riley Bonner holding the ball and converted, and Riewoldt booted his third two minutes later, it was out to a 23-point margin at the main break.
The Power had the perfect start when Dougal Howard marked strongly in the pocket and from a difficult angle slotted his first major of the day.
But from there the Tigers dominated territory and piled on the pressure, recording four of the next five goals to take hold of the game.
Xavier Duursma provided a highlight with a high mark and goal while Amon, busy with 22 disposals to that point, snapped a goal with less than 20 seconds to play to bring it back to a five goal game and keep the Power in the hunt.
But the last term saw the Power have the worst possible start when a horrendous bounce saw the ball evade Tom Clurey and allowed Tom Lynch to boot his third goal of the contest.
Further compounding Port Adelaide's problems, Dan Houston came from the ground after being wrapped up in a strong tackle to undergo a concussion test and would take no further part in the contest.
The game was all but over when Shane Edwards found himself free in the goal square for the easiest of goals.
Cam Sutcliffe - his first in Power colours - and Tom Rockliff scored consolation goal either side of a Daniel Rioli major, but it was too little too late.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 2.4 4.6 7.7 9.9 (63)
RICHMOND 5.4 8.5 12.7 15.11 (101)
Goals
Butters 2, Amon 2, Dixon, Howard, Duursma, Sutcliffe
Disposals
Boak, Byrne-Jones 29, Amon 28, Broadbent, Rockliff 26, Duursma
Best
Amon, Broadbent, Byrne-Jones, Jonas, Boak, Duursma
Crowd
41,642 at MCG
