This article first appeared on afl.com.au

PORT ADELAIDE has put in a comprehensive performance to continue its undefeated record in China, thumping a lifeless St Kilda by 70 points at Adelaide Arena at Jiangwan Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Several Saints fell ill in the lead-up to the clash in their first match in China, and having held up relatively well amid a constant stream of injuries to its top-end talent this season, they started sloppily and looked to be only just holding on before conceding nine consecutive goals from midway through the second quarter.

It was their worst performance of the campaign and to make matters worse, hard-nosed skipper Jarryn Geary looked to have badly hurt his lower left leg in the final term while making his comeback, 43 days after his right thigh was sliced open for compartment syndrome.

He was injured when kicking his own leg in a rundown tackle from Connor Rozee.

St Kilda sent him to hospital for x-rays, fearing he has suffered a suspected broken leg.

For the Power, the 22.7 (139) to 9.15 (69) result as the temperature hit 28 degrees was an important win for their finals hopes. Going into the second half of the season at 6-5 and with a percentage of 110.9 will give them cause for optimism.

Port's forward line has had its problems and looked particularly inexperienced in last week's loss to Hawthorn, so they moved Dougal Howard up there to good effect.

It scored over 100 points for the first time since round 13 last year, against the Western Bulldogs.

Howard booted a goal inside the opening two minutes, which was vital considering the Power's starts in recent times have been woeful, having gone goalless during the first quarter three times in the past month.

Being without Tom Rockliff, who couldn't overcome a left hamstring issue and was left out of the side, might have been a problem, considering how prolific he has been. However, having Robbie Gray spend more time in the middle proved to be a pretty handy solution.

He was splendid and St Kilda sent its stopper Jack Steele to him to open the second half, after the Saint was initially on Travis Boak.

Incidentally, Boak was terrific himself and won the Shanghai Medal for best-afield, continuing what has been an outstanding year.

More tinkering from Ken Hinkley saw Dan Houston shift from half-back to the midfield, and he collected 28 disposals.

Delivery into attack has been a glaring weakness for the Saints all year, and some of it was deplorable, especially in the first quarter.

Missed chances when the match still hung in the balance also proved costly. Wayward set shots from Ed Phillips and Dean Kent, along with a Jack Sinclair snap that should have been put through, hurt.

It was the other way around for Port, which converted its chances with remarkable efficiency. Riley Bonner put through two of his three goals from long range, first on his non-preferred right, then later on his left.

There were few highlights for St Kilda. Matthew Parker, who has a penchant for producing the exciting, celebrated a snapped goal with a bow to the crowd.

Before he went off, Geary was given the difficult task of marshalling a backline missing so many of its established names.

Daniel McKenzie and Jonathon Marsh pulling out late because of illness meant their names sat alongside Jake Carlisle, Dylan Roberton and Jimmy Webster on the list of those unavailable.

Unsurprisingly, their backline made several simple errors, gifting Port multiple goals.

The two who were pulled out weren't the only ones who had their preparation hampered. Jack Billings and Shane Savage didn't train on Saturday, with the former posting a season-low mark for disposals with 14 and the latter making several errors and collecting just 11 himself.

MEDICAL ROOM
St Kilda: To sour the Saints' day, Geary hurt his lower left leg in the last quarter and he couldn't put any weight on it as he was helped off. Fellow defender Nathan Brown had treatment for a knee complaint. Illness ran through the Saints camp pre- game. Billings and Savage were declared healthy but defenders McKenzie and Marsh didn't make it to the line.

Port Adelaide: Big-bodied midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper limped off in the third term but returned soon enough.

NEXT UP
A week off for both sides. Some of the Saints will stay in the country for a few days ahead of a round 13 trip to Townsville to take on Gold Coast, while Port Adelaide will head to Western Australia for what looms as a difficult clash with Fremantle, which just pulled off a last-gasp upset over Collingwood ahead of its bye.

ST KILDA                     3.4       5.8       7.10     9.15 (69)
PORT ADELAIDE         5.1       12.3     18.3     22.7 (139)

GOALS
St Kilda: Gresham 3, Newnes, Billings, Parker, Membrey, Long, Marshall,
Port Adelaide: R.Gray 3, Bonner 3, Ryder 2, Boak 2, Farrell 2, Howard 2, Butters 2, Rozee, Westhoff, S.Gray, Duursma, Lycett, Motlop,

BEST 
St Kilda: Marshall, Ross, Newnes
Port Adelaide: Boak, R.Gray, Howard, Lycett, Jonas, Amon, Houston 

INJURIES 
St Kilda: McKenzie (ill) and Marsh (ill) replaced in selected side by Coffield and Joyce, Geary (lower left leg)
Port Adelaide: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Williamson, Findlay, Gianfagna

Official crowd: 9412 at Adelaide Arena at Jiangwan Stadium

2019 Shanghai Medal voting

Winner: Travis Boak (9 votes)

L. Wood - Herald Sun 
3 - Travis Boak
2 - Robbie Gray
1 - Karl Amon

A. Lynch - Fox Footy
3 - Travis Boak
2 - Robbie Gray
1 - Rowan Marshall

D. Cassisi - Triple M 
3 - Travis Boak
2 - Robbie Gray
1 - Riley Bonner