Following instructions the key

Port Adelaide's disciplined adherence to the coaching group's instructions was the key to its 26-point win against defending premier Sydney at the SCG, according to new Power defender Nathan Lonie.

"We had great confidence in each other that we could win the game," Lonie said of Sunday's result, which shocked most tipsters. "It was just a matter of listening to the coaches' instructions and following them for the whole game. I thought we did that well, and that's why we won.

"It was a great result for the team. It's always good to get your first win on the board so hopefully we can go in next week (against Fremantle at AAMI Stadium on Sunday) with a bit of confidence.

"They (the Dockers) are a good side. They move the ball quickly. They have a lot of good forwards and midfielders, so I think it's going to be up to what the coaches say on how we can beat them. If we stick to that like we did on the weekend, I can't see any reason why we can't win."

Lonie said Port had been 'more disciplined' and had not given away 'silly free kicks' as it was accused of doing in its opening-round loss to the Kangaroos at AAMI Stadium.

"We played as a team," he said. "Apart from Chad (Cornes), I think it was an even 21 guys. It was a team performance, which was the most pleasing thing.

"I didn't realise how good a player he (Cornes) was. I knew he was a good player playing for the opposition. Playing with him is just great. That mark he took in the second quarter going back with the flight of the ball just typified how we were going to win the game. It was just great."

Long-kicking left-footer Lonie, 23, who played 64 AFL matches for Hawthorn from 2001-05, admitted he was 'disappointed' to miss selection in the Power's 22 against the Roos.

"But that's footy," he said. "I just want to play every game I can. I want to be the best player I can be, and if it's playing on a good player or playing wherever the coach puts me, I just want a game and I want the respect of my teammates. Hopefully I can play ever game from here on in."

Lonie laid five tackles (the most by any Port player), as well as having eight kicks and seven handpasses against the Swans and, importantly, quietened ace forward Adam Goodes.

"Coming to Port Adelaide, there was a focus for me to get into the game a bit more, and as a team generally we wanted to pick up our tackling, and I thought it worked really well on the weekend," he said.