In a heated and physical encounter, the Magpies led from start to finish with a number of impressive performances across the ground.
Sam Colquhoun, Sam Gray and Karl Amon found plenty of the ball while Kane Mitchell was impressive in the first half with three clever goals to help push the Magpies out to a 32-point lead at the main break.
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Support was easy to find up forward with Ben Haren and Henry Slattery each converting two.
The good team performance was soured after Ben Newton and Jake Johansen were both sidelined with concussion from separate incidents.
Johansen will be assessed ahead of Thursday night’s season opener against Norwood, while further confirmation will be required for Newton, who was stretchered from the ground, although both are expected to be cleared.
North Adelaide finished the game with three reports.
After slow starts against South Adelaide and Central District, senior coach Garry Hocking was pleased with the fast start displayed by the Magpies.
He was also impressed with the maturity show by the team, particularly when North put numbers back and tried to shut down the free moving home side.
“Pre-match we were all about starting well, obviously we didn’t start well against Centrals last week and against South we were a little bit slow, so I really put it on the group to start well,” Hocking told portadelaidefc.com.au.
“Trying to dictate the footy and keep the ball in our front half was important.
“It’s a young group, but their footy nous is probably more mature than some might expect.
“They’ve got really good balance and some method, we don’t try and get frustrated, we try to remain composed with the ball and execute in our forward 50.
“We know that through time in the front half something will eventually give and hopefully we can make the most of that.”
Port Adelaide was particularly strong defensively with strong tackle pressure around the ground.
It was an important area for Hocking to win.
“I’m really, really impressed by the way all of our 22 players tonight defended,” said Hocking.
“We know that we can stay in the game for longer periods if we’re tackling, harrassing and putting pressure on our opposition.”
Port Adelaide won all three trial games leading into the season proper.
The Magpies Academy side will play North Adelaide’s reserves on Sunday at Alberton from 3:15pm ahead of the official League season opener against Norwood on Thursday night at the Parade.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 4.6 8.4 9.7 11.9 (75)
NORTH ADELAIDE 1.1 3.2 4.4 6.6 (42)
portadelaidefc.com.au’s best
S. Gray, Hitchcock, Mitchell, Amon
Goals
Mitchell 3, Slattery, Haren 2, S. Gray, Neade, Newton, O’Shea
Injuries
Newton (concussion), Johansen (concussion).
