PORT ADELAIDE powered past Fremantle with a 46-point win at Adelaide Oval in the AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round on Sunday evening.

Port started fast, booting the opening seven goals of the game and withstood some pressure from the Dockers before cruising home in the last quarter.

Here are some key things we learned from the game.

1) Port’s best is irresistible

Criticised for its slow starts in 2021, Port Adelaide’s opening term could not have been more of a contrast to last week’s one-point effort against Collingwood. The opening seven goals of the game – three within the first five minutes – and wins in every key statistic. Port won the clearances 12-4, led 40-22 in contested possessions and 86-33 in the uncontested category, however the wasteful Dockers could have been so much closer given the inside 50 count was 15-all. It was a high-intensity opening where Port Adelaide’s skills were sublime. The ball was moved at speed and the Dockers looked hapless. It was Port Adelaide's best opening since round 17, 2017 (8.1 v North Melbourne) and best first term against Fremantle since scoring 7.3 in round 2, 2017 at Adelaide Oval. Coach Ken Hinkley said that was the “blueprint” for how he’d like his side to play and it was irresistible. However, he conceded it was tough to keep it up for four quarters, but warned other sides that it would be hard to stop if his side could play at least two and a half quarters in that fashion.

2) Awesome Amon

Much has been made of Ollie Wines this season, and for good reason. Travis Boak also attracts the headlines for his ultra-consistent showings. But one midfielder who regularly slips under the radar is Karl Amon. His 16-disposal first quarter rewrote Port Adelaide’s record books as the most touches in a first quarter and while he slowed a touch after quarter time, the 25-year-old still finished with 27 possessions, six tackles, two clearances and a goal – decent stats by any measure. Amon also had a game-high 585 metres gained. He is now averaging 23.3 disposals in 2021, well up on his career average of 17.2.

3) Dixon and Ladhams one-two punch

Ken Hinkley said his side wanted to try something different and surprise the opposition when he sent Charlie Dixon into the ruck at the first bounce. The move not only caught Fremantle off guard but shocked most at Adelaide Oval. But the move worked. Dixon sparked the side and he was involved in a goal to Mitch Georgiades inside 70 seconds. The big fella wound up with three goals, 18 disposals, five marks and two clearances. Ruckman Pete Ladhams did his bit too, playing arguably his best game of the year. He had 20 disposals, four marks, three tackles and four clearances to go with two goals. The pair was narrowly shaded in the hit-out stat, combining for 26 to Fremantle’s 32, but was otherwise dominant in a showing that would please Hinkley and his coaching team.

4) Sir Doug Nicholls Round is special at Port Adelaide

Asked about his side’s hot start, Ken Hinkley said the Sir Doug Nicholls Round was important for his club, not just its seven AFL-listed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players or the 63 who have represented the club since 1870. The round, which celebrates Indigenous culture and the incredible contribution of Indigenous players to Australian Rules Football, coincided with the culmination of Port Adelaide’s industry-leading Santos Aboriginal Power Cup program. That saw more than 500 students taking to Adelaide Oval for a cultural performance and welcome to country after some of their peers had played in a curtain raiser to determine the Cup champions. Former Port Adelaide player Marlon Motlop was also on show, kicking the ceremonial first goal of the game and then putting on a half time show with his six-piece band.