Port Adelaide came out strongly in the first quarter against the Demons with hard tackling and direct kicking forming the Power's early gameplay.
The Power's first goal came through Daniel Stewart who commenced in the ruck and took a solid mark around 40 metres from goal. Kicking to the south with a breeze to the east, the emerging ruck-forward put Port Adelaide six points ahead within the first two minutes.
Port Adelaide continued to dominate play, with a number of strong tackles from the likes of Kane Cornes and Matt Thomas, who showed he had lost none of his trademark skill with the wrap-around.
Struggling against some unfortunate free kicks against the men in black, Port Adelaide's men rallied with a high defensive pressure holding Melbourne to only one goal midway through the quarter. Indeed, the Demons' only score beyond a major at the four minute mark came ten minutes later in the form of a rushed behind.
Robbie Gray delivered the Power's second goal directly in front after a solid mark against Melbourne's last line of defence, whilst some excellent ball movement from Jackson Trengove, Justin Westhoff and Travis Boak across the western wing allowed Jay Schulz to check side Port Adelaide's third at the seventeen minute mark.
John Butcher later displayed the forward dedication he has become known for with an excellent running spoil of what should have been a definite Demons mark. Brad Ebert was successful in running onto the loose ball and kicked his first for the night. Ebert was successful only minutes later in putting through an almost identical kick to put Port Adelaide's sixth on the board.
Jackson Trengove is an injury concern after leaving the field midway through the quarter.
Travis Boak was a stand out for Port Adelaide, as was Matt Thomas in his first game of AFL football since midway through 2011. Kane Cornes has also displayed a good level of intensity playing off the wing and across half back, whilst Brad Ebert and Robbie Gray have proven solid for the Power in front of goals.
Port Adelaide leads the possession count by 71 disposals at the end of the quarter
Quarter time scores
Port Adelaide 6. 3.39 lead
Melbourne 2.1.13
Goals: Brett Ebert 2, D. Stewart, Gray, Schulz, Logan
Second Quarter
Ruled out of the rest of the game with a suspected dislocated finger, Jackson Trengove was subbed off for appropriately named emerging talent Aaron Young at quarter time.
Majors were more difficult to find in the second quarter, with the Power's first coming through some John McCarthy goal-finding six minutes in. He was followed shortly by Matthew Broadbent running towards the big sticks.
Melbourne had come out harder in the second stint of the match and tested the resolve of some of the Power's younger brigade. Undaunted, the Power resolved to hunt in packs, tackle hard and play in front - textbook football.
Nathan Jones got one back for the Demons at the halfway point, bridging the gap back to the 26 point lead Port Adelaide maintained at the break.
Robbie Gray and Travis Boak continued to provide strong leadership on the field for Port Adelaide, ably supported by Danyle Pearce and Kane Cornes racking up the disposals.
The Power struggled to find the goals against a concerted Melbourne flood - often with just one Demon outside of the Power's offensive third. Ending the half well with three more goals on the board, but was able to maintain ahead of where they started the quarter.
Half time scores
Port Adelaide 9. 7. 55 lead
Melbourne 4. 4. 28
Third quarter
With Tom Jonas brought on as substitute for John McCarthy after the half time break, the Power was unlucky to concede the first goal with Melbourne running the football out of the centre well from the opening break.
Port found the goals through Aaron Young slotting his first for the quarter. The substitute certainly earned his own ball in the third with a number of good assists and a particularly strong tackle to gain the Power an important forward entry.
Matthew Broadbent kicked the Power's second for the term, bringing his tally up to two for the night, before Darren Pfeiffer brought up the Power's tenth for the evening.
Port Adelaide lifted its intensity after the break - tackling hard and often with three of four players at a contest.
Aaron Young justified his selection as a substitute with his second goal for the night from a mark inside fifty.
Troy Chaplin switched on in the third to prevent several opportunities for the Demons to score - including an important mark and a later spoil on the last line of defence.
Matt Thomas also continued to show his class upon return to league level throughout the quarter - his toughness not unlike the spirit and dedication shared by a former number 21 for the Power (Michael Wilson).
Port Adelaide maintains a 35 point lead into the final break.
Three quarter time scores
Port Adelaide 13. 7. 85 lead
Melbourne 7. 8. 50
Fourth quarter Port Adelaide came out in the second term hoping to deliver a decisive victory but was again challenged as Melbourne pushed numbers back into their defensive fifty which restricted the Power's ability to slot goals.
A powerful final term performance from key Melbourne players, particularly ex-Brisbane Lion Mitch Clark put pressure on the Port Adelaide defensive line - some wayward kicking providing some respite for the stretched Power backs.
Yet although Melbourne's possession count was on a greater parity with Port Adelaide's in the final quarter, an important goal to Tom Jonas (on the heels of two fifty metre penalties favouring Port Adelaide) steadied the ship for the home side.
Jay Schulz put the game beyond doubt for Port Adelaide with his third goal for the night.
The night was marred for Port Adelaide when emerging forward John Butcher was reported for his part in a collision late in the final term - seeing Colin Sylvia stretchered off the ground at the twenty-fourth minute.
Port Adelaide fans would have been pleased with the heart on show from the squad tonight, with Danyle Pearce, Travis Boak and Robbie Gray all having standout performances, complemented by Jay Schulz and Matt Thomas - the Power running out 48 point winners.
Full time scores
Port Adelaide 17. 10. 112 defeated
Melbourne 9. 10. 64
Goals: Schulz 3, Broadbent, Brad Ebert, Pfeiffer, Young 2, Gray, Jonas, Logan, McCarthy, D. Stewart, Thomas.
Injuries: Trengove (finger)
Reports: Butcher (rough conduct against C. Sylvia, Umpire Dalgliesh)
Stats leaders
Kicks: Pearce 25, Broadbent 17, Brad Ebert 15
Handballs: Cornes 17, O'Shea 14
Marks: Cornes 11, Gray 10
Disposals: Pearce 33, Cornes 31, Boak 26, Gray 25
Tackles: Thomas 6, Gray 4
Dream Team: Cornes 119, Gray 116, Pearce 109, Broadbent 102
Full report and analysis to come
