Having finished with a positive 3-2 record in the NAB Cup, and remaining undefeated in the SANFL trial games, Port Adelaide now begins its quest up the ladder in both the AFL and SANFL competitions - with the club faithful looking towards bigger and things in 2012.

Looking back
Port Adelaide played its final NAB Cup match under lights at AAMI Stadium on Friday night, with opponents Melbourne fielding close to their best squad. The Power came out firing early with quick goals to the side opening a 26 point at quarter time. Port Adelaide was never headed in the contest, but struggled at times to break Melbourne’s flood into its attacking fifty.

Matt Thomas had a successful return to AFL level leading the club’s tackle count, whilst Danyle Pearce was best on ground with a number of strong running efforts out of defence. Kane Cornes also impressed with a 31 disposal performance. Travis Boak also performed well as acting captain - leading the side across the ground with several important efforts throughout the match. Jarrad Redden struggled in the ruck against the rated and experienced combination of Mark Jamar and Mitch Clark.

[ Related: Match highlights ]

Scoreboard
 Port Adelaide 17.10.112 def
Melbourne 9.10.64

Goals: Schulz 3, Broadbent, Brad Ebert, Pfeiffer, Young 2, Gray, Jonas, Logan, McCarthy, D. Stewart, Thomas.

The Coach, Matthew Primus
"What it has (pre-season) done is given us a platform to be as prepared as good as we can - injury-wise, health-wise and putting in some performances on the park. The players have lifted their intensity every week so all it does is give us a platform to attack the season in a good, competitive (and) committed way…I couldn't be more happy with how we've prepared for the start of the season."

The captain, Travis Boak
"It was a great four quarter effort by the boys! There was a big focus on starting well and to have a 6-2 effort in the first (quarter) was great. To finish off the game with beating them in the last quarter was really positive for us. I think it leaves us in a good position having a great pre-season and finishing off with a few wins in the NAB Cup really sets us up for a good season so hopefully we can start off well against St Kilda! "

Stats stack
 Kicks: Pearce 25, Broadbent 17, Brad Ebert 15
Handballs: Cornes 17, O’Shea 14
Disposals: Pearce 33, Cornes 31, Boak 26, Gray 25
Marks: Cornes 11, Gray 10
Tackles: Thomas 6, Gray 4
Dream Team: Cornes 119, Gray 116, Pearce 109, Broadbent 102

The Power to End Hunger
 Port Adelaide has established itself as one of the league's most socially progressive and engaging clubs following its agreement with Foodbank South Australia to be the Power's joint major sponsor, along with V.I.P. Home Services. The deal will see the word's "End Hunger" appear on the back of the Power's home guernsey and away strip fronts. Money sourced from key program backers will be distributed evenly between the club and Foodbank's core projects, whilst the Power will provide assistance to Foodback through community engagement and publicity opportunities. Stay tuned for more on the club's new relationship to End Hunger throughout the year!

[ Related: The Power To End Hunger With Foodbank ]

Engine room getting revved
 The Power's engine room certainly revved up against Melbourne with great run and carry out of the midfield and from defence with Danyle Pearce best on ground and old guard in Kane Cornes putting in a strong performance. They were ably supported by Travis Boak and Robbie Gray carrying the ball forward. There was a lot to like about the sudden spike in midfield run-and-carry and fans will expect that type of effort to continue when the real deal starts against St Kilda

Butcher off the chopping block
 John 'The Future' Butcher made headlines for the wrong reasons when he was reported for a clash with Melbourne's Colin Sylvia - prompting a big tussle between the Power and Demons players inside Port Adelaide's attacking third. Replays showed a sickening mid-air collision between the duo which resulted in Sylvia being sidelined with minor spinal fractures. The Match Review Panel cleared Butcher of any wrongdoing, but initially gave him a $1200 fine for his part in the ensuing melee. The club successfully defended Butch's charge with the big haired forward's wallet intact as of Wednesday morning.

Young talent time
 You might not know the name Aaron Young but the senior listed 19 year old showed his potential in spades on Friday night. Subbed onto the field mid-way through the game, Young proceeded to boot two goals for the Power alongside rookie sub Tom Jonas. It was a super-encouraging result for the youngsters, both of whom will be looking to crack the starting 22 on a permanent basis in the coming seasons.

[ Related: PTV Aaron Young ]

Power Un-locked
 World’s Greatest Shave took place this week and Steve Salopek, Travis Boak and Daniel Webb were all de-haired as a result. Salopek championed an AFL Shave Allstars team consisting of some of the big names in modern football. Special thanks to all of those Port Adelaide fans who got behind our players in their efforts to raise money for Leukaemia Rresearch

Coming up
 Port Adelaide hosts St Kilda at AAMI Stadium next Sunday in the opening round for the 2012 premiership.

The club will take the opportunity with a weekend off prior to the match to select its first 22 players for the year, with a number of players expected to return to the side following on from its successful NAB Cup campaign.

The last five
 Round 16 2011, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 18.5 (53) def by St Kilda 17.7 (109)
Round 19 2010, Etihad Stadium - Port Adelaide 8.9 (57) def by St Kilda 23.13 (151)
Round 5 2010, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 7.12 (54) def St Kilda 6.8 (44)
Round 5 2009, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 5.6 (36) def by St Kilda 15.12 (102)
Round 18 2008, Etihad Stadium - Port Adelaide 14.9 (93) def by St Kilda 14.7 (101)

The Black and the White
Port Adelaide's SANFL League side drew in its final trial match with Glenelg. Having led by a significant buffer early in the game, coach Tony Bamford rotated a number of players at half-time ahead of this Friday's night clash against Woodville-West Torrens. The ensuing draw masked an otherwise good performance from the Magpies, with Bamford stressing that trial match results were by no means an indicator of a highly professional approach by the playing squad to the pre-season, and ultimately a great summer on the track for the team.

Action at Thebarton Oval will be under lights for the first time and the Magpies and Eagles will battle it out to win the first Maughan Thiem Cup - provided by the SANFL side's joint major sponsor, Maughan Theim Ford.

Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 12.11 (83)
drew with Glenelg 13.5 (83)

Next match: Round 1 away at Thebarton Oval, Friday 23 March, League starts 7.40pm, Reserves 4.55am.