PORT Adelaide suddenly looks to have a genuine chance of making the finals after comfortably defeating an inaccurate North Melbourne by 28 points at Etihad Stadium to close to within two games of the top eight.

And eighth-placed North is the team that looks most vulnerable to the Power's late challenge, with Saturday's loss its fifth in a row – the Roos' worst losing streak since 2009 – and its sixth from the seven matches since its club-record 9-0 start to 2016.

Full match coverage and stats 

Port jumped the Roos from the first bounce – capitalising on a free kick against North defender Michael Firrito for a deliberate rushed behind to goal within the opening minute – and set the tone for the match with a six-goal-to-nil first term.

The Power led by 47 points at the eight-minute mark of the third term and, despite an improved effort from North in the second half, was never seriously challenged as it closed out an impressive 16.9 (105) to 10.17 (77) victory.

Robbie Gray starred for Port with 35 possessions and two goals, while Chad Wingard (20 possessions and two goals) was brilliant when the Power took the ascendancy early in the game. 

Five talking points: North Melbourne v Port Adelaide

Skipper Travis Boak (32 possessions and seven tackles) was prolific through the midfield, Justin Westhoff and Jay Schulz (three goals each) were dangerous in attack, while makeshift ruckman Jackson Trengove's work around the ground gave him a points win over reigning All Australian Todd Goldstein.

Port coach Ken Hinkley was pleased with the way his team took the game on with frenetic ball movement. 

"We know that when we do it, we can play it pretty well, and today I thought there was some real growth in the way we did it and I was pleased with that," Hinkley said.

"We haven't got anything unless we've got work rate … and that's how we get most of our results. And when we don't work at that rate, we get the other results that we don't like."

North was its own worst enemy in front of goal on Saturday, missing far too many goals it should have kicked. 

The third term was the best example. Coming out after half-time with a noticeable lift in intensity, the Roos controlled general play but opened the quarter with five straight behinds before Ben Brown finally kicked truly at the 13-minute mark.

In that time, Port kicked 2.0 to extend their half-time lead by one point to 40 points.

WATCH: Instrumental Wingard lifts Power

By the end of the term, North only had 2.9 to show from 16 inside 50s, while Port kicked 3.0 from eight inside 50s. It meant the Roos reduced their half-time deficit by just three to 36 points.

Roos coach Brad Scott said his team's inaccuracy had been disappointing but primarily blamed its slow start for the loss.

"The start was really poor. Obviously the first goal will be the point of conjecture but the second goal was just as bad in my view. The ruck gets pushed out of the way, a quick kick and it falls into their lap," Scott said.

"We were under pressure from that point on, so while at quarter-time we've had basically as many inside 50s (and) kicked five points, they took their opportunities.

"But more than that I thought they out-tackled us early too, which was concerning because we couldn't assert our physical dominance on the game and from then on we were working really hard to try and score quickly.

"At the end of the day we got ample opportunity and we didn't convert which is really disappointing." 

Ageless veteran Brent Harvey (29 possessions and two goals) was the Roos' best player with his creative run through the midfield, while Jack Ziebell (23 possessions) and Andrew Swallow (24) worked hard around the stoppages.

Ben Brown (three goals) was North's best target in attack and most reliable set shot, while Michael Firrito and Robbie Tarrant held up well on what was a tough evening for North's defence. 

MEDICAL ROOM
North Melbourne: Drew Petrie copped an accidental knee to the thigh in a collision with Port defender Logan Austin in the third quarter, but after looking ginger for a few minutes played out the game. Lindsay Thomas came off late in the third term after a heavy knock and was assessed in the rooms for concussion but returned to the game midway through the final term. Roos coach Brad Scott said after the game both Petrie and Thomas seemed to have pulled up OK.

Port Adelaide: Ollie Wines spent about five minutes off the ground during the third quarter after copping a heavy knock, but returned and played out the game. Charlie Dixon was carried off the ground after landing awkwardly in a marking contest early in the final term with an ankle injury and did not play any further part in the game. Port coach Ken Hinkley was hopeful after the game Dixon would be available next round. "It'll be a bit 50-50. I don't think it's a significant one. We know Charlie's history with ankles but this one was different to any of the others he's done. I just spoke to him about that. He's pretty bullish about the fact he'll do everything he can to be right for next week."

NEXT UP
The Roos have another six-day break before they face Collingwood at Etihad Stadium on Friday night in what now shapes as a must-win game for Brad Scott's men. Port Adelaide returns home to host Greater Western Sydney at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday, when it will be looking to avenge an 86-point loss to the Giants in round four.

There was plenty to celebrate as the Power kept their finals hopes alive. Picture: AFL Media

NORTH MELBOURNE      0.5     3.8      5.17    10.17    (77)                  
PORT ADELAIDE              6.3    10.5    13.5     16.9     (105)          

GOALS
North Melbourne: Brown 3, Thomas 3, Harvey 2, Anderson, Macmillan
Port Adelaide: Westhoff 3, Schulz 3, Wingard 2, R. Gray 2, Young 2, Neade, S. Gray, Boak, Ah Chee

BEST 
North Melbourne: Harvey, Ziebell, Swallow, Brown, Firrito, Thomas
Port Adelaide: R. Gray, Wingard, Boak, Westhoff, Trengove, Young

INJURIES 
North Melbourne: Nil
Port Adelaide: Dixon (ankle) S. Gray (thigh)

Reports: Nil 

Umpires: Schmitt, Kamolins, Jeffery

Official crowd: TBC – approx 27,000 at Etihad Stadium