A poor second quarter proved as costly to Port Adelaide's chances as inaccurate kicking in the last at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

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Power switched off

Essendon increased the heat of the game in the second quarter but Port wasn’t able to respond.

So said senior coach Ken Hinkley after the game.

Although the Power’s inaccuracy was a major impediment to its chances in the final quarter, it really played itself out of the game in the second term.

Essendon dominated the quarter with almost 40 more possessions than the Power; it scored goals with ease from centre clearances and had the Power playing catch up for the rest of the day.

Few players could hold their heads high in the second quarter, but Brad Ebert was one of them.

He had 20 disposals to half time and finished the match with 36, four tackles and 23 pressure acts.

The Power responded in the third quarter but quickly found Essendon hitting back – only reducing its margin at the final break by one point.

But with plenty of opportunity to snatch the win with 12 scoring shots in the final term to eight, the Power did itself no favours with inaccurate kicking keeping a popular win elusive.