IT was a disappointing afternoon for Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium, as the Power lost their first game of 2018 to Essendon by 22 points.

A nine-goal to four opening half set up the game for the home side, with Port struggling to register consecutive goals throughout the match.

The Bombers shot out of the blocks early kicking the first three goals of the afternoon, before Todd Marshall snapped truly to stem the tide midway through the first term.

Jack Watts hit the scoreboard soon after, but it was the Bombers who lead the contest by 14 points at quarter time, thanks to a second goal to James Stewart before the siren.

Dyson Heppell, Zach Merrett and David Zaharakis racked up plenty of the football through the middle, while Robbie Gray had nine touches for the Power.

John Worsfold’s men started the second quarter as they finished the first, and opened up a 36-point lead midway through the term.

Heppell and Zaharakis continued to find the footy, while Stewart added another goal to his tally.

Robbie Gray was everywhere for the Power, amassing 20 disposals by the main break – 10 of those contested, while laying three tackles.

When Watts kicked his second for the game and Sam Gray snapped his first, the margin was back to 22 points, but a late Jake Stringer goal had the home side in front by 27 at half time.

Charlie Dixon kicked the important opening goal of the second half, but Brendon Goddard responded soon after with a long bomb from outside fifty.

The Bombers kicked the next two through Orazio Fantasia and Jake Stringer to take the margin to a game-high 40 points with seven minutes remaining in the third quarter.

The last three goals of the third term went to Ken Hinkley’s men, as they brought the margin back to 23 points at the final break.

A couple of Essendon behinds to start the last quarter allowed Port back into the game, and when Byrne-Jones crumbed the pack and kicked truly, the margin was back to just 19 points.

But as had happened throughout the day, the Power were unable to kick consecutive goals. When Joe Daniher kicked his first and Stringer kicked his fourth – a rolling snap from deep in the pocket – the game was all but over.

With both sides sharing goals late in the contest, it wasn’t to be a fourth straight for the Power to open the season – the Bombers too good on their home ground.

Scorecard
PORT ADELAIDE 2.2 4.7 8.8 12.12 (84)
ESSENDON 5.2 9.4 12.7 16.10 (106)

Goals
PORT ADELAIDE: Watts 3, Boak, Dixon, S. Gray, Westhoff, Amon, Marshall, Bonner, Byrne-Jones, Rockliff
ESSENDON: Stringer 4, Stewart 3, Daniher, Myers 2, Fantasia, Green, Goddard, McDonald Tipungwuit, Baguley

Portadelaidefc.com.au's best: R Gray, Polec, Watts, Jonas