PORT ADELAIDE has gone down by nine points to South Adelaide in Round 3 of the SANFL.

The Magpies led at each change before succumbing to the Panthers in the final quarter.

After a slow start where neither side kicked a goal for 20 minutes, the Magpies were the first to end the drought through Trent Burgoyne.

The Panthers responded moments later, but Ollie Lord’s set shot on the siren ensured Port led by nine points at quarter-time.

South opened the second stanza quickly, but again it was Port which hit back hard, with Dylan Williams snapping around his body in style to put the margin back out to 10 points.

Sam Powell-Pepper marked his return game with a towering set shot from 45 metres out and a stellar celebration.

The Panthers refused to go away, kicking the next two of the second quarter to trail by just three points at the major break.

South hit the lead for the first time just moments into the third quarter.

Yet, it was Magpies captain Cam Sutcliffe who stood up with an early goal of the year contender from the pocket to respond.

The two sides exchanged blows back and forth, with Sutcliffe slotting his second on the run, Ethan Moore converting from 40 metres out and Matthew Appleton also nailing a major.

The Panthers got one back on the verge of three-quarter-time through Liam Fitt to trail by just four points at the final change.

Jake Tarca kicked the first for South in the final quarter before Sutcliffe slotted his third.

Moore landed his second from a set shot but it was all the Panthers from there.

Port had two opportunities late but missed them wide to succumb by nine points.

Tom Rockliff amassed 41 disposals in his first game back from a concussion sustained at Norwood, while Sutcliffe was terrific with 29 touches and three goals.

Sam Hayes was again impressive as he took seven marks and won 26 hitouts for the day.

SCOREBOARD

Port Adelaide                   2.5         4.7         8.10       10.12     (72)

South Adelaide                1.2         4.4         8.6         12.9       (81)

Port Adelaide

Goals: Sutcliffe 3, Moore 2, Appleton, Burgoyne, Lord, Powell-Pepper, Williams.

Best: Sutcliffe, Rockliff, Hayes, McKenzie, Appleton, Moore.