PORT Adelaide has moved to second on the ladder with a comfortable 36-point victory against St Kilda at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

In front of a crowd of 36,253, the Power were never seriously challenged as they won their fifth consecutive game for the first time since early 2014.

Key forward Charlie Dixon booted four goals, including three in the last quarter, as the Power cruised home 12.14 (86) to 7.8 (50), but the big blow was a knee injury to star defender Tom Jonas.

POWER CHARGE Full match coverage and stats

Jonas' left knee was twisted in a tackle in the third quarter and he didn't take any further part in the match.

Chad Wingard, Tom Rockliff, Sam Powell-Pepper and Steven Motlop (in his 150th game) did plenty of damage through the midfield, recruit Jack Watts looked sharp in his first game from a stint in the SANFL and defender Darcy Byrne-Jones, in his first game back after he was punished for being late to a training session, was busy across half-back.

"We didn't play as well as we would like, but it was pretty solid by the end and we still won the game pretty well," Power coach Ken Hinkley said.

"Never going to lose the game, which was pleasing.

"You take the win, we're 11-4 and move on."

After back-to-back wins over Gold Coast and Melbourne, the Saints were solid without looking like they were on the Power's level.

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Veteran David Armitage was outstanding with 30 disposals and three goals, Jade Gresham continued his purple patch of form with two goals and eight inside 50s, while Jack Steele – who kept Ollie Wines to 18 disposals while having 26 himself - and Luke Dunstan worked hard through the midfield.

In a first half devoid of many highlights, Paddy Ryder's brilliant roving goal from the pocket was the standout piece of play.

The Power ruckman snatched the ball off his bootlaces before producing a perfect grubber kick from tight on the boundary.

It was slim pickings after that, both sides combining for 7.12 from 19 scoring shots as skill errors were the order of the day.

The Power booted the first five goals of the game before Armitage kicked two quick ones – the first when he intercepted a horror kick from Dan Houston, and the second from a free kick – to have the Saints trailing by 18 points, 5.6 (36) to 2.6 (18) at half-time.

Dixon then began exerting his influence on the game.

WATCH Motlop massive in milestone match

The Power key forward tapped the ball down to Robbie Gray, whose slick handpass found Travis Boak for an open snap on goal.

Dixon again brought the ball to ground leading to a Justin Westhoff goal, the Power extending their lead to 30 points.

Just as the Saints started to slip away, a beautiful long kick from Gresham gave Tim Membrey an unimpeded run into an open goalsquare.

Gresham hit the scoreboard twice – gleefully accepting Jared Polec's horrible cross-field kick, then another from a snap – to keep the Saints within striking distance.

But a couple of late goals from Dixon sealed the result.

"Both teams made mistakes, they were better than us," Saints coach Alan Richardson said.

"I was pleased that we were able to limit their scoring up until half-time, even though they had shots, to go in still with an opportunity for victory.

"Straight after halftime they were able to do a bit of damage."

MEDICAL ROOM

Port Adelaide: Could be bad news for key defender Tom Jonas, who left in the game at the 13-minute mark of the third quarter with a knee injury. Jonas' left knee was twisted as he was tackled. "We don't know exactly what that will look like. He'll get scanned and we'll make some decisions from there. At this stage, he didn't finish the game, so he's got a significant injury that might put him out for a little bit of time, we don't know," Power coach Ken Hinkley said.

St Kilda: The Saints reported a clean bill of health.

NEXT UP
The Power will attempt to win their sixth straight game when they head west to face Fremantle at Optus Stadium next Sunday, 2.40pm (AWST). Meanwhile, the Saints host Carlton on Friday night at Etihad Stadium, 7.50pm (AEST).

PORT ADELAIDE          3.1   5.6   8.12   12.14 (86)                  
ST KILDA                     0.5   2.6  4.6   7.8 (50)  

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Dixon 4, Watts 2, Westhoff 2, Boak 2, Ryder, Gray
St Kilda: Armitage 3, Gresham 2, Membrey, Dunstan

BEST 
Port Adelaide: Wingard, Motlop, Rockliff, Byrne-Jones, Clurey, Dixon
St Kilda:  Armitage, Steele, Gresham, Dunstan, Webster, Billings

INJURIES 
Port Adelaide: Jonas (knee)
St Kilda:  Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Fisher, Schmitt, Hay

Official crowd: 36,253 at the Adelaide Oval