AN abysmal third quarter in front of goals has put paid to the Power's hopes in the final NAB Challenge game for both Adelaide-based clubs on Saturday afternoon.

Seven shots on goal left Port Adelaide reeling in the so-called premiership quarter (though no premiership points were on offer), while the Crows enjoyed a day out by adding four goals and two NAB supergoals to their half time score.

Beaten in the middle during the third term, the Power struggled to maintain its hold on the Crows after being just seven points adrift at half time. 

There were few highlights for the Port faithful, but one was surely tall forward John Butcher, who booted five goals including a desperate soccer curl from the behind post.

His fourth goal - 10 minutes into the last term - broke a run of 11 consecutive points kicked by his teammates in more than a quarter of football.

Butcher's performance capped a solid NAB Challenge campaign for the 197cm forward, and Saturday's strong-marking effort was just reward for an intense, full-ish pre-season.

In contrast, his team played two solid quarters before Adelaide ran away with the game in the second half, thanks mainly to its slicker ball movement and pressure on the Power’s defence.

Two Rory Sloane supergoals gave an effective three-goal boost to the Crows’ score line early in the third to signal the end of Port's hopes on the day.

Even with first-choice players like Chad Wingard, Hamish Hartlett, Angus Monfries, Paddy Ryder and Jackson Trengove out of the side, the Power was brushed aside by a hard-tackling Crows outfit when the game was on the line.

The final 24-point margin masked the Power's struggle to regain some respectability from a sizeable deficit, however kept running through until the final siren to kick six goals.

Port Adelaide's NAB Challenge program concludes with one win over West Coast and losses to the Crows and Richmond.

It's regular season opener will be against Fremantle on Sunday 5 April at Domain Stadium. 

SCOREBOARD

PORT ADELAIDE                0.5.1      0.7.4      0.7.11    0.13.15 (93)
ADELAIDE CROWS            1.2.5      1.6.8      3.11.9    3.13.12 (117)

PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU'S BEST

Boak, Wines, Butcher, Broadbent, R. Gray, Young, Mitchell

GOALS

Butcher 5, R. Gray, Schulz, Young 2, Ebert, Wines

SUBSTITUTES

Tom Clurey replaced Cam O’Shea in the third quarter.

Paul Stewart replaced Jack Hombsch in the third quarter.

CROWD

13,971 at AAMI Stadium