PORT Adelaide has started its SANFL season with a 62-point loss to Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Friday evening.

An injury to Xavier Duursma made the night tougher as he left the field clutching his shoulder midway through the third quarter.

The Magpies were slow out of the blocks, with Matthew Wright kicking the first two majors of the match to give the Crows a buffer.

Anthony Wilson was a welcome addition to the side and provided an early highlight with a neat snap in the Riverbank End pocket to steady the ship.

Neither side could then find the big sticks in an inaccurate opening stanza until Shane McAdam broke the duck for the Crows to ensure they led by 11 points at the first change.

Jeremy Finlayson was denied by the goal post as he searched for his first goal in Port Adelaide colours as Adelaide got the first major of the second quarter.

Ollie Lord then produced a stellar mark and went back with a neat set shot to trim the margin to 11 points.

A quickfire double then had the Magpies on the ropes with the margin quickly out to 23 points in a matter of minutes.

Matt Appleton made something out of nothing under extreme pressure to keep his side within touching distance, before a neat counter, led by Finlayson resulted in Wilson’s second.

Port was steaming back at the end of the second, but Riley Thilthorpe marked and converted to give Adelaide a four-goal lead at the main break.

It looked as if the Magpies would steam back early in the third, with Dylan Williams converting after the Crows missed opportunities.

This was followed by the highlight of the day, where Sam Hayes found Cam Sutcliffe with an elite tap, before the skipper passed to Miles Bergman who found Lord who converted for his second.

The momentum was with Port until Adelaide put it to bed with four successive majors, including a fourth to Wright.

Trailing by 37 points, the Magpies had a mammoth task at hand at the final change, which got harder just seconds into the last as Jake Soligo goaled for the Crows.

Despite that, Wilson was having a terrific day up forward, and despite having a mark spoiled in the pocket, recovered to kick the goal of the day while laying down on the ground deep in the pocket.

Yet, the Crows continued to put the sword to the Magpies, piling on another five majors to blow the margin out to 64 points.

Finlayson would kick his first for Port as a late consolation but it mattered little in a disappointing first up showing by the club.

SCOREBOARD

Port Adelaide    1.5       4.7       6.9       8.13     (61)

Adelaide           3.4       8.7       12.10    18.15    (123)

Port Adelaide

Goals: Wilson 3, Lord 2, Williams, Appleton, Finlayson.

Best: Bergman, Kirk, Wilson, Surman, Corcoran.