PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says the lessons learned after losing Paddy Ryder for the 2016 season mean his side can deal with his absence this year.

Ryder, last year's All Australian ruckman, missed Saturday night's 14.10 (94) to 10.11 (71) victory over Sydney at the SCG after aggravating an Achilles injury in round one.

He is expected to be sidelined for the next month.

Despite being on Port's list, Ryder did not play for the entire 2016 season after he was implicated in his former club Essendon's supplements scandal.

After the triumph against Sydney, Hinkley said: "We learned from Paddy not being around for a year".

Justin Westhoff began the contest in the ruck for the visitors, but Charlie Dixon did most of the heavy lifting after half-time, as the Power booted 10 goals to four and surged past Sydney.

Robbie Gray returned from injury to take Ryder's place in Port's 22 on a fine but greasy night for football in the Harbour City.

"You have to learn when you have to play a whole season without him," Hinkley said of Ryder.

"I thought we had a handy replacement tonight in Robbie (Gray). For the conditions it was almost the perfect swap.

"We'd love to have Paddy out there but we bought a ground-level player in, in conditions that favoured ground-level players."

Sydney was also missing first-choice big-man Sam Naismith (knee), who is out for the season. In his place, Callum Sinclair dominated the hit-outs with 44.

However, Westhoff (27 disposals) and Dixon (17 touches) worked tirelessly around the ground and were both among the Power's best.

In the past, Dixon playing on the ball would leave a gaping hole inside Port's forward 50.

But Hinkley said Saturday night's slippery conditions, as well as the addition of Jack Watts, who arrived from Melbourne in the off-season, meant Dixon's absence was less important.

Then, there was 19-year-old tall forward Todd Marshall, who sparked his side with three goals in just his fifth AFL game.

Marshall's inclusion in the Power's team for last year's elimination final defeat to West Coast was put under the microscope when he went goalless.

Hinkley said the 198cm unit had "unnoticed talent".

"He's got an enormous amount of upside in him still, he's developing a body, he's developing an appetite for playing AFL football," Hinkley said.

"He works really hard and he's getting reward for that effort."

The Power's other ruck option – Dougal Howard – spent the night in defence locked in an intriguing battle with Lance Franklin, who booted four goals.

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