The Magpies overcame inaccurate kicking in front of goals to take the win - the first for the new-look outfit playing its first competitive match under coach Garry Hocking.
The opening quarter was played through the centre of the ground as both sides wrestled for control of the ball.
Port seized the initiative late in the term though, with midfielder Sam Gray and defender Aseri Raikiwasa leading from the front to help swing momentum back in favour of the home side.
That momentum was reflected on the scoreboard, as forwards Mason Shaw and Cameron Hitchcock kicked two goals apiece for the quarter.
The second quarter was a different story though, with the Panthers fighting back hard to close the margin to nine-points at half time, thanks partly to inaccuracy from the Magpies.
Youngster Sam Colquhoun booted a magnificent goal off a single-step from 50 metres out to excite the home crowd, but it was a rare highlight in a difficult term for the Magpies.
The game descended into a scrappy affair in the third quarter as both team's foot skills deserted them.
While the Magpies were able to win the ball, a combination of intense pressure from South up forward as well as inaccurate set shot kicking squandered the opportunity for a greater lead at the final change.
A strong finish in the final term with Magpies senior-listers Anthony Biemans and Louis Sharrad slotting classy goals put the finishing touches on a servicable team effort for Port Adelaide.
Mason Shaw finished with three goals in an impressive strong-marking performance up forward while Sam Colquhoun, Ben Newton and Tom Logan played strongly in their final opportunity to stake an AFL Round 1 claim.
Magpies captain Steven Summerton praised his teammates for their effort in their first game together.
"We're just trying to build the trust and mateship within our team, we have blokes who haven't played much together and it was a good start to have - it's good to get a win," Summerton told portadelaidefc.com.au.
"There were a couple of lapses where we didn't press as hard as we should have. It's just about getting consistency and playing for one another around the ground.
"We knew South would come out trying after quarter time and play pretty hard, there were no points by we knew they'd try to get the win.
"The boys were able to steady the flow and grind the game back into our favour. We're pretty confident we can run out games with our fitness so we'll hopefully do it again in a couple of weeks."
Port Adelaide's next trial game will be against Central District on Saturday March 22 at 2:10pm at Elizabeth Oval.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 4.1 5.3 6.8 9.10 (64)
SOUTH ADELAIDE 1.1 3.6 5.7 7.7 (49)
GOALS: Shaw 3, Hitchcock 2, Colquhoun, Gray, Sharrad, Beimans
BEST: Colquhoun, Logan, S. Gray, Bruggermann, Newton
A strong finish in the final term with Magpies senior-listers Anthony Biemans and Louis Sharrad slotting classy goals put the finishing touches on a servicable team effort for Port Adelaide.
Mason Shaw finished with three goals in an impressive strong-marking performance up forward while Sam Colquhoun, Ben Newton and Tom Logan played strongly in their final opportunity to stake an AFL Round 1 claim.
Magpies captain Steven Summerton praised his teammates for their effort in their first game together.
"We're just trying to build the trust and mateship within our team, we have blokes who haven't played much together and it was a good start to have - it's good to get a win," Summerton told portadelaidefc.com.au.
"There were a couple of lapses where we didn't press as hard as we should have. It's just about getting consistency and playing for one another around the ground.
"We knew South would come out trying after quarter time and play pretty hard, there were no points by we knew they'd try to get the win.
"The boys were able to steady the flow and grind the game back into our favour. We're pretty confident we can run out games with our fitness so we'll hopefully do it again in a couple of weeks."
Port Adelaide's next trial game will be against Central District on Saturday March 22 at 2:10pm at Elizabeth Oval.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 4.1 5.3 6.8 9.10 (64)
SOUTH ADELAIDE 1.1 3.6 5.7 7.7 (49)
GOALS: Shaw 3, Hitchcock 2, Colquhoun, Gray, Sharrad, Beimans
BEST: Colquhoun, Logan, S. Gray, Bruggermann, Newton
