PORT ADELAIDE has opened the 2020 AFL Premiership Season with a 47-point win against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.

Port kicked nine goals to three in the opening half to set up the victory, but a tight tussle combined with humid conditions made scoring difficult late in the contest.

It was a very contested start with the football spending a lot of time between both teams’ 50s, but a strong Ben King mark and goal opened the scoring for the Suns.

The Power responded through debutant Mitch Georgiades who marked and goaled deep in the forward line for his first major in AFL football.

Georgiades then created a strong contest for Steven Motlop to crumb and kick truly on the fun from 45 metres out.

Todd Marshall added the away side’s third goal with a smart finish on the run, while a bit of Robbie Gray brilliance set up Brad Ebert for four consecutive goals to the Power.

Zak Butters kicked things off in the second term with a goal, before Marshall’s second from deep in the pocket handed the Power an early 31-point advantage.

A 50-metre penalty to the Suns and a nice left-foot snap from co-captain David Swallow halted Port Adelaide’s momentum, but it was Ken Hinkley’s men who would do all of the scoring to finish the first half.

Motlop ran on to a loose ball over the back and handed off to Connor Rozee who snapped his first, then Hamish Hartlett launched one from 55 metres out to hand the Power a 40-point lead heading into the main break.

Travis Boak led the way in the first half with 16 disposals, while Tom Rockliff (13), Ebert (12), Powell-Pepper (11) and Karl Amon (11) found plenty of the footy.

Touk Miller (14), Jack Bowes (10), Ben Ainsworth (10) and Lachie Weller (10) were the leading disposal-getters for the home side.

It was tough going for both sides to start the third term, but Ainsworth broke the deadlock with a goal over the back to reduce the margin to 33 points.

Both sides could only combine for one goal in the third quarter, with the Power held goalless after managing nine in the first half.

Georgiades kicked his second to open the last quarter and that was the final goal of the contest, as players began to tire and conditions became tough to score.

Rockliff finished with 26 disposals to lead all-comers, while Boak and Darcy Byrne-Jones each racked up 25 possessions.

Marshall and Georgiades continued to present in the forward half kicking two goals apiece, while Motlop chipped in for two of his own.

The Power will now turn its attention to next weekend’s Showdown against cross-town rival Adelaide.

GOALS:

Georgiades, Marshall, Motlop 2, Ebert, Hartlett, Butters, Rozee

BEST:

Boak, Ebert, Rockliff, Byrne-Jones, McKenzie, Rozee