THE Fremantle Dockers suffered a heavy 56-point loss at the hands of Port Adelaide in their NAB Challenge match in oppressive heat at Noarlunga, south of Adelaide.
With the temperature soaring to 38c on Saturday, both sides played close to full-strength line-ups but the Power looked the better prepared, running all over the Dockers in the third term to set-up the 16.15 (111) to 8.7 (55) win.
Warren Tredrea was superb for the Power, kicking three goals, while Steven Salopek, Danyle Pearce and Daniel Motlop also looked good.
Byron Schammer and Heath Black stood out for the Dockers.
Fremantle coach Mark Harvey said the extreme heat affected his players.
"I thought we were off our feet at certain stages," he said.
Harvey said he wouldn't lose any sleep over the one-sided result.
"I'll tell one thing about pre-season form, forget about the results, because they can be misleading," he said.
"And they give you a false sense for round one and round two."
"So I'm not getting anxious about anything at the moment."
Port Adelaide assistant coach Adam Kingsley said his side was very impressive under difficult conditions.
"I think both teams started to suffer a bit from the heat, but to come down here in such conditions, to show the amount of intensity that we did show, being able to pressure the opposition into a lot of turnovers I thought was a terrific result."
The game started at a cracking pace with Dockers captain Matthew Pavlich quickly booting the opening goal after a strong mark inside 50m.
Port responded with goals from Tredrea and Brett Ebert, before Chris Tarrant put the Dockers back on equal terms.
The Power began to assert themselves in the midfield with Pearce twice splitting the uprights late in the term.
Mark Johnson and Des Headland worked hard as the Dockers struggled to cope with their opponents play-on style and quick movement, and at quarter time the Power led by 13 points.
After the break the Power showed no let-up in intensity to race to a 26-point advantage.
With the Power dominating all over the ground the Dockers suddenly hit back to kick three consecutive majors through Tarrant, Dean Solomon and the exciting Brett Peake and cut the margin back to seven.
The Dockers lifted their attack on the ball and matched the Power at centre clearances, and at half time the visitors had gained some momentum to trail 8.9 to 6.5.
The long break appeared to halt the Dockers' run as a Tredrea-inspired Power kicked 6.4 to the Dockers two behinds during the third term to lead by 54 points at three-quarter-time and seal the victory.
PORT ADELAIDE 5.4 8.9 14.13 16.15 (111)
FREMANTLE 3.3 6.5 6.7 8.7 (55)
Goals
Port Adelaide: W Tredrea 3 D Pearce 3 B Ebert 3 D Motlop 2 R Gray 2 C Kornes S Burgoyne B Lade.
Fremantle: M Pavlich 2 C Tarrant 2 D Solomon B Peake D Headland S McManus.
Best
Port Adelaide: W Tredrea S Salopek D Cassisi D Pearce D Motlop.
Fremantle: B Schammer H Black M Johnson.
Injuries: Port Adelaide: Nil. Fremantle: R Hayden (groin).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: M Avon G Fila M Stevic.
Crowd: 3,014 at Hickinbotham Oval.
