PORT Adelaide coach Matthew Primus concedes it was "boys against men" at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night after watching his team slump to a record 138-point loss to reigning premier Collingwood.

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The Power were completely outclassed by the Magpies, failing to kick a goal until the 28-minute mark of the second quarter, and posting their lowest AFL score - 3.3 (21).

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The hefty defeat eclipsed the club's previous-worst loss of 119 points in the lopsided Grand Final against Geelong in 2007.

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After the match, Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said the blowout result was an example of a "worrying trend" in the AFL.

Primus admitted there was a "pretty big gulf" between ladder-leader Collingwood and bottom-placed Power, but said he was more concerned by his team's inability to adhere to team structures and discipline.

"As stupid as it might sound, I thought the effort was OK but the roles we were meant to play in the first half just weren't there … how we wanted to play just was not there," Primus said.

"We were winning a stoppage and kicking it straight back [to Collingwood to cause] a turnover and we weren't setting up properly.

"We were winning the contested ball and all that stuff, so the effort in that regard was no worries, but how we structured up was real disappointing.

"Until we learn to play and do what we're told for four quarters … we'll get within a few goals of some teams and we'll get smacked, like we have tonight, by others."

The result was a disappointing and unjust end for decorated veteran Chad Cornes in his farewell game.

"We spent a fair bit of the week going over what Chad has done for the club, so it was really disappointing," Primus said.

"We knew we were going to play against a very good team, but it was disappointing to give that [performance] for Chad."

Primus confirmed impressive midfielder Hamish Hartlett and defender Jasper Pittard had also played their last games of the season.

Hartlett will have surgery on his injured shoulder next week, while Pittard will be sidelined for a month after re-injuring his hamstring, albeit in a different position to the strain that kept him out for four matches.

David Rodan was a late withdrawal from the team to play Collingwood but Primus said the midfielder's omission was because of a need for more "outside run", and not injury related.

The Power, who have won only two games, will record their worst-ever season this year and are positioned to secure their first wooden spoon, but Primus said his commitment to rebuilding the team wouldn't waiver.

"I was aware the pain we were going to go through this year by playing the core group of players we've wanted to," he said.

"But we have to go down this path. We're going to continue to go down this path and there is light at the end of the tunnel, even though it doesn't seem like it for our supporters...

"It's going to be feeling pretty bleak, but we know where we're heading and where we want to go. It's a long journey and a big hill to climb.

"We can't just roll over, give in and say, 'we'll just play every kid on the list and who cares if we don't turn up to play'.

"We've got to be accountable to how we're going to play and prepare. If we don't want to do that, we'll get another result like we did tonight."