PORT ADELAIDE coach Matthew Lokan was pleased with his side’s ability to match it with ladder-leader Glenelg in its three-point victory at the Bay on Sunday afternoon.

The Magpies led at every change and survived a nail-biting final few minutes to get their first win of the season and end the Tigers’ unbeaten run for the second successive season.

Post-match, the Magpies mentor said it was reward for effort after a frustrating opening month.

“It's really important in the context of our season because we know we've been playing a little bit better, but to be able to play against the best side at their ground and get a result like that was great reward for the effort that we've been putting in to improve,” he said.

“We didn't think it was far away, we had played some patches over the first month of footy.

“But, to be able to put it together and beat the best side in the comp is important for us.”

Port led by a point at the final change but the Tigers had the momentum and Lokan made some changes for the final term.

“We thought we understood the way that Glenelg wanted to play and we were right, the boys weren't just able to stop it and Glenelg were able to get their game going a little bit,” he said.

“What we needed to go back to at that stage of the game was probably what we had planned to at the start of the game was just take away their uncontested marks and put some pressure around the footy.

“We had some guys that did some super efforts today like Jake Pasini on Liam McBean, he was super. Luke Surman came in last minute and went into the ruck.

“We've been building, we're slowly getting there, and we need to continue it again. We’ve got a tough, tough game against the Eagles (this week).”

One of the changes made deep in the third term was Lachie Jones to the midfield, which saw an injection of pace and strength.

“I just felt like we needed that little bit of extra speed around the ball,” Lokan said.

“Matt Snook is one of the best midfielders in the comp.

“We just thought we weren't able to get on the outside of those guys, so we put some leg speed around the ball and I think we got slammed -9 at centre clearance in the third quarter, but we were okay around the ground.

“Jackson Mead went to half back and I thought he did a pretty good role there too.”

One of the highlights of the year came midway through the final term, which ultimately became the match-winning mark, when Dylan Williams soared over a pack similar to the Shaun Smith mark of the century.

Williams slotted three goals in a terrific individual performance and Lokan was pleased for the talented forward, despite his late miss which would’ve sealed the game.

“It's a bit hard to see from the back corner of the stand, but we all know the talent Dylan is,” Lokan explained. “I would've probably liked it if he kicked his snap late in the game, but he's been really consistent for us and I thought he was a good part of our forward line.”

Down back Jake Pasini shut down Liam McBean, restricting the Ken Farmer Medallist to just one goal, while tall forward Ollie Lord had things under control at the other end with two majors.

“Jake Pasini and Ollie Lord's development this year has been super for us. Key forwards do take a little bit of time to develop and (Ollie’s) ability to work on his craft during the week is now starting to transfer to game day,” Lokan said.

“It's really important for Ollie's development to continue to build on what he's doing and he's been really good for us.”