NORTH Melbourne has kept its top-four hopes alive after holding off a strong challenge from expansion side Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval on Saturday.

The Kangaroos trailed by five points at quarter-time before their experience and class shone through, kicking five goals to one from that point to cruise home by 25 points.

The 7.12 (54) to 4.5 (29) victory moves the Kangaroos (5-3) up to sixth on the ladder and only four premiership points behind second-placed Melbourne.

05:17

AFLW S7 Highlights: Port Adelaide v North Melbourne

The Power and Kangaroos clash in round eight of the 2022 NAB AFL Women's Competition

Jasmine Garner showed why she is one of the stars of the competition, collecting 28 disposals along with kicking two goals.

POWER v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

Ashleigh Riddell and captain Emma Kearney had 21 and 20 disposals respectively, while Alice O’Loughlin booted two majors.

Power vice-captain Ange Foley and youngster Hannah Ewings had 16 disposals each.

The Power started strongly with a physical brand of football.

Foley made the most of a breeze at her back with a 55m bomb that cleared the pack and bounced through for her side’s first goal.

Returning star Gemma Houghton – in her first game in six weeks after ankle surgery - and Justin Mules followed suit to give the Power a five-point advantage at quarter-time.

Garner put the Kangaroos back in front before ruck Emma King showed great poise to sidestep her opponent and kick the goal.

Power debutant Lily Johnson kicked truly with six seconds on the clock to narrow the deficit to three points – 4.5 (29) to 4.2 (26) – at halftime.

00:42

Johnson joy as first-gamer's sweet strike ignites Power

Lily Johnson completes an awesome set shot in her debut game much to the delight of her teammates and Port faithful

Sophie Abbatangelo scored the only goal of a tight third quarter, before O’Loughlin’s second goal gave the Kangaroos some breathing room.

Did you see that?
The Power got off to a great start. Justine Mules dropped a chest mark, but more than made up for it with an amazing snap that bounced through for the side’s third goal. But credit has to go to Ebony O’Dea for her courageous attack on the ball in defence that started the scoring chain.

The difference
The Kangaroos threw captain Emma Kearney into the midfield at halftime to get some more dominance. The move had the desired effect, as the battle-hardened Kangaroos onballers started to get the upper hand around the ground against the Power’s youthful onball brigade.

Up next
North Melbourne faces a tough challenge against premiership contenders Collingwood at Victoria Park next Saturday, 1.10pm (AEDT). Meanwhile, Port Adelaide hits the road for the final time this season when it takes on St Kilda at RSEA Park next Sunday, 1.10pm (AEDT).

PORT ADELAIDE                 3.1      4.2      4.3      4.5 (29)
NORTH MELBOURNE           2.2      4.5      5.8      7.12 (54)

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Foley, Houghton, Mules, Johnson
North Melbourne: O’Loughlin 2, Garner 2, Randall, E King, Abbatangelo

BEST 
Port Adelaide: Foley, O’Dea, Phillips, Boag, Surman, Yorston
North Melbourne: Garner, Kearney, Riddell, M King, Abbatangelo, Brown 

INJURIES 
Port Adelaide: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil

LATE CHANGES
Port Adelaide: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil

Reports: Nil