PORT ADELAIDE has defeated the top-of-the-table Geelong by 11 points at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

Port kicked three goals to one in the opening term, before leading by 19 points at the main break to help set up the victory.

Geelong challenged late in the contest, but the Power held strong in defence to make it the side’s seventh win of the season.

Both sides attacked early in the contest without any reward on the scoreboard, before Robbie Gray broke the deadlock with a snap in the fifth minute.

The Power then dominated the territory battle, but could only manage three minor scores from set shots.

Brad Ebert pinpointed Dougal Howard in the forward 50, before eventually ending in the hands of Connor Rozee for the home side’s second major of the night.

Key forward Charlie Dixon brought the house down midway through the first term with his first goal - returning to the Power line-up for the first time since Round 21, 2018.

Gary Ablett then burst through the 50 for Geelong’s first goal, to reduce the margin to 13 points late in the first quarter.

Dan Houston and Xavier Duursma registered double-figure possessions in the opening term for the Power, as they took in a 14-point lead into the first break.

Patrick Dangerfield opened the scoring in the second quarter courtesy of a free kick, which he launched from 55 metres out.

The Power answered through co-captain Ollie Wines, who crumbed from the stoppage and put a snap through the middle.

Defender Ryan Burton then found some space and snapped from outside 50 to give the home side an 18-point buffer heading towards the main break.

The visitors responded late in the term through Darcy Fort, before Kane Farrell kicked his first on the half-time siren to extend Port’s lead to 19 points.

Houston continued his ball-winning dominance with 19 touches in the first half, while Travis Boak (15), Robbie Gray (14) and Scott Lycett (14) also had plenty of the ball.

Mitch Duncan and Dangerfield each had 15 touches for the Cats in the opening half.

Ken Hinkley’s men attacked in the first 10 minutes of the third quarter but again inaccuracy hurt them, as Tim Kelly and Gryan Miers kicked back-to-back goals for the Cats.

Sam Gray responded for the home side, before Fort kicked his second for the visitors, to reduce the margin to nine points just prior to the three-quarter time siren.

Rozee booted his second, minutes into the final term, before Robbie Gray kicked his second to hand the Power a 22-point lead.

Ablett then slotted his second, but a 10-minute goalless period from both sides meant it was a difficult task for the visitors.

Rhys Stanley kicked one late to reduce the margin to 12 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Power ran out 11-point victors, in front of 37,726 people at Adelaide Oval.

Lycett was brilliant in the ruck with 41 hit-outs, 24 disposals (18 contested) and five marks, while Robbie Gray finished with 31 touches and two goals.

Boak had it 30 times for the home side, while Duncan led all-comers with 35 disposals.

Houston did a fantastic lockdown job on Geelong star Kelly, while Tom Clurey and Tom Jonas were terrific in defence.

The Power made it 7-6 heading into a big contest against the Western Bulldogs next Saturday night in Round 15.

SCOREBOARD

PORT ADELAIDE    3.4   6.4   7.9   9.13 (67)
GEELONG  
1.2   3.4   6.6   8.8 (56)

GOALS

Gray, Rozee 2, Farrell, Dixon, Burton, Wines, S. Gray

BEST

Lycett, R. Gray, Boak, Clurey, Jonas, Burton, Houston, Rozee