PORT ADELAIDE have held on to triumph over reigning premiers Richmond in a Friday night arm wrestle at Adelaide Oval.

After a week where his form was questioned in the media, Chad Wingard started in the middle and was prominent in the opening stages with a clearance and four early touches.

The other Power player criticised during the week was Charlie Dixon and he silenced some doubters with a strong mark on All-Australian Alex Rance and a following goal.

He was involved again with a one-handed grab outside 50 which led to a Justin Westhoff goal, when the beanpole utility was infringed upon in the goal square.

But the reigning premiers were always going to respond and they did first through forward Jack Riewoldt who marked on the lead and kicked truly from 45.

Shane Edwards then imposed himself on the contest with two goals in two minutes, including the easiest of soccer goals out of the air inside the goal square.

The Power fought hard to regain the momentum but Sam Gray missed two opportunities to goal, including after the siren after marking on the lead, and the Power trailed by seven points at the first break.

Reiwoldt was involved again early in the second term with a mark and goal from 35 metres after less than a minute.

But a clever tap by Robbie Gray to the advantage of Charlie Dixon saw the big man kick long to the advantage of Westhoff who ran into the open goal to boot his second.

Westhoff was the beneficiary again less than two minutes later of some dogged forward pressure by the Power and when he snapped his third the home side was back on level terms.

The Tigers were missing Brownlow Medallist Dustin Martin through a calf complaint but his replacement Anthony Miles was staying involved, and he put an end to the Power’s run with a goal from 45 metres out directly in front after marking on the lead.

Sam Gray showed his confidence wasn’t dented by his early misses and after marking on 50, he played on and danced around his opponent before goaling on the run to bring the Power level again.

From there it was all Port Adelaide with the Power booting five goals from five inside 50s and Paddy Ryder missing a chance to make it six.

Jared Polec was prominent, as were both Sam and Robbie Gray as the home side took a 23-point lead into the main break.

After a scrappy and scoreless opening, Jason Castagna broke the deadlock with a behind after nearly 10 minutes before a controversial free kick saw Riewoldt boot his third.

The sides traded goals before Jason Castagna grabbed one late for the Tigers to set up a tense final quarter with the Power leading by 17 points.

The visitors kept Port Adelaide goalless in the final term; the Power peppering with five behinds for a frustrating quarter.

The sole major for the term came through Castagna with 45 seconds remaining on the clock - and Port Adelaide ran our eventual victors by 14 points.

SCOREBOARD

PORT ADELAIDE 2.2 9.5 10.7 10.12 (72)
RICHMOND 3.3 5.6 7.8 8.10 (58)

Goals
Westhoff 3, S Gray, R Gray 2, Dixon, Polec, Motlop

Best
Wines, Wingard, Polec, Westhoff, SPP, Jonas

Injuries
Nil

Crowd
39,936 at Adelaide Oval