PORT ADELAIDE is back among the AFL's winners with its grinding win over Richmond injecting some much needed confidence into its playing group after a difficult fortnight.

A goal to Charlie Dixon late in the first term put the Power ahead for the first time on the night, and barring a handful of goals to Richmond early in the second quarter, the visitors were able to wrest the lead back and maintain the advantage to the final siren.

Jarman Impey led the goal kickers with three to his name; Dixon, Young and Neade finished with two apiece.

Heading into the match rank underdogs with pundits after losing star forwards Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard to injury, the Power looked like a side battling form woes early in the match, with plenty of precarious disposals going the way of their opposition. 

But Port settled as the first term ticked along and eventually took the lead before quarter time via a textbook snap from Charlie Dixon.

The Power also played with a patience and composure rarely seen in 2016. Instead of blazing away and overusing its possession, it relied on measured kicks to work its way into defence. 

Mixed with some brutal corridor running to transition with pace from defence into attack, Port looked a world away from the side that posted demoralising losses to GWS and Geelong in the past fortnight.

Jared Polec was supreme in his 50th AFL game with elite kicking to give his teammates the upper hand as they worked towards the Power's attacking arc.

Rebounding defenders Matthew Broadbent and Jasper Pittard were again among Port's best, while Darcy Byrne-Jones continued his incredible start to life in the top flight with another encouraging performance. 

And importantly, the Power's leadership - particularly Travis Boak - stood up. 

Hombsch and Jonas were solid down back, while Ebert and Hartlett worked their way into the game. 

Ollie Wines also put his frame to good work as a big-bodied battering ram inside contests.

The victory leaves Port at 3-3 for the year and knocking on the door of the top eight along with Round 6 losers Gold Coast and Melbourne.

Port Adelaide hosts the Brisbane Lions at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday 8 May at 4.10pm (local).

First Quarter

Playing with a makeshift ruck brigade with second-gamer Dougal Howard rejoining the side, the Power came into the match as one of the competition's worst performing midfields at clearance.

Shaun Hampson dominated the ruck and the Tigers capitalised early with goals to Grigg and Riewoldt getting their lead out. 

The Power appeared unsettled by the Tigers early and turnovers through the middle were lapped up by the home side, which ran into attacking 50 with plenty of free space.

Port settled and managed to lock the ball inside its attacking 50, but could only manage behinds until Impey broke the drought with the Power's first goal.  

Holding some of its strongest possessions for the year, the Power played with patience and built into attack by picking better options.

Justin Westhoff had a howler period after misfiring a handball after marking directly in front of goals, only to take another contested mark in the same position and spray the kick wide.

The Power put that behind them, though, and set about working the ball forward from polished run through the corridor. 

Charlie Dixon put the finishing touches on an encouraging start by putting his side in the lead for the first time with a perfect set-shot snap.

The Power led by five points at quarter time.


Second Quarter

Ty Vickery got the Tigers off to a fast start with a goal in the opening minute, but it was all Port after that. 

Aaron Young (two goals) and Jake Neade (one) did the finishing in attack for the Power, but it was Port's rebounding midfield that did well to get the ball into winnable positions. 

Three consecutive goals pushed Port out to a 16-point advantage with neater, more efficient ball use.

Even with Grigg bagging his second, Port ran the Tigers around, with a long bomb to Justin Westhoff resting at true full forward put the Power's advantage back out to 17 points. 

For everything the Tigers managed to create, the Power had a response. 

The icing was undoubtedly this one...

 

Third quarter

Port Adelaide continued to inch ahead in the third term and held strong as the Tigers lifted the intensity of the game.

For the first time this season, the Power's defence was solid enough to resist Richmond's charge forward. 

Both sides traded goals and looked poised to enter the third term having each added another treble to the scoreboard.

But the Power managed to break through for a fourth major - Impey's second - late in the quarter to open a 21-point lead at the final break.

 

Fourth quarter

With both sides fatiguing, the Power nursed its way into the lead, with a barricade built from Nathan Krakouer, Tom Jonas, Jasper Pittard, Jack Hombsch and Cam O'Shea across defence to halt Richmond's attack.

The Power was also able to manufacture its own results in attack with Impey kicking his third goal and Dixon his second.

Holding Richmond to a solitary behind, the Power kicked 2.3 to put the icing on its third win for the year.

SCOREBOARD

PORT ADELAIDE     2.7    7.10    11.13     13.16 (94)
RICHMOND            2.2    5.4      8.10       8.11 (59)

Goals
Impey 3, Young, Neade, Dixon 2, Westhoff, Broadbent, Boak, Krakouer

Best 
Broadbent, Polec, Pittard, Wines, Boak, Byrne-Jones, Young

Injuries
Nil 

Crowd
27,077 at the MCG

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