A GALVANISED Port Adelaide has emerged from an emotional week to snap a two-game losing streak with a 33-point win over North Melbourne.
Sam Gray's four goals were the catalyst for the Power's 15.12 (102) to 10.9 (69) win at Etihad Stadium, which halted the Kangaroos' promising run of form.
POWER SWITCH BACK ON: Full match coverage and stats
Port also benefited from Tom Jonas' excellent defensive job on in-form forward Ben Brown - who kicked two of his four goals when the game was all but over - plus bruising, hard-tackling performances from midfielders Jared Polec and Brad Ebert.
As significant as the win was for Port, it was tempered by Chad Wingard's serious-looking left hamstring injury in the fourth quarter.
FIVE TALKING POINTS: Quiet Chad set for sidelines
The Power had to level their emotions heading into the game, having rallied around young forward Todd Marshall this week following the passing of his father Robert just six months after his mother Mary lost her fight with cancer.
They also had to deal with Hamish Hartlett suffering a season-ending knee injury at training, the messy conclusion to the Sam Powell-Pepper saga, and Lindsay Thomas' Tribunal case that added three games to his one-match suspension from last week's loss to Geelong.
"I'm proud of the team," coach Ken Hinkley said afterwards.
"It's as tough a week as you get in a footy club, and that's what footy clubs do, they hang together.
"It felt a bit like the world was ganging up on us, and to their credit, I said to them they stuck together today and ganged up back. They had a real crack and played good footy."
WATCH: The Chad finishes on ice
Coach Ken Hinkley said he would know in the opening five minutes if his players were up for the challenge after such a tough time and would have been pleased with what he saw.
The Power tripled the Kangaroos' tackles in that period, which saw them reverse the lead after Brown signalled his intentions for a big day with the game's opening goal just 14 seconds in.
But they had a plan for the Coleman Medal leader. Jonas lined up next to him, but there was a drop-off defender ready for a double-team every time the Roos went inside 50.
The Kangaroos tried their best to clear out the arc with Brown, Jarrad Waite and Jack Ziebell – or a resting midfielder – the only players to start each bounce inside 50, with their flanking forwards high on the wing.
Waite got out a few times when Brown was held and took four marks (and kicked three goals), but both key forwards couldn't get involved when the game was up for grabs.
WATCH: Jarrad gets off the leash
With the exception of three minutes late in the first term, the Power didn't trail again after Brown's first goal and built a healthy 25-point half-time lead by dominating in close with 10 more contested possessions for the half.
North tagger Ben Jacobs reduced the efficiency of a variety of opponents; he spent the most time on Ollie Wines, who had 11 touches before the break and 20 for the game, gave Brad Ebert a hard time at stoppages and ran with Robbie Gray when he went into the midfield.
But with the impressive Charlie Dixon refusing to let Todd Goldstein take advantage at the stoppages, Jacob's stopping jobs didn't matter much despite the Roos fighting back to regain control of the contested ball.
The Power were able to hold on in a more open, flowing second-half performance
"This game was a much finer line than most people think; they were just a bit better than us in the contest, which allowed them to get going and we weren't able to pressure well enough," North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said.
"It was a bit of a slow burn today, they just kicked four goals a quarter and just chipped away at us.
"It didn't feel like there was a wave of momentum going against us but we couldn't get it going our way either, every time we kicked a goal, even the few times when we kicked two in a row, they'd get one back."
WATCH: Always play to the whistle
MEDICAL ROOM
North Melbourne: There were no fresh injuries for the Kangaroos.
Port Adelaide: Chad Wingard will be sidelined for an undefined period of time with the left hamstring injury he sustained in the last quarter. Wingard felt for the back of his leg after taking a mark inside the Power's forward 50 but went ahead with the set shot anyway. He nailed the goal but grimaced afterwards and instantly signalled to the bench that he was coming off. He then sat with his head in his hands after hobbling from the ground. Wingard has a history with hamstring injuries – most recently on his right leg – but the Power are optimistic this is another minor one.
NEXT UP
The Kangaroos are off to Sydney to face the Swans on Saturday night at the SCG, while the Power are headed to Perth to face West Coast at Optus Stadium that afternoon.
SHOWREEL: Gray leads Port's return to form
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.1 4.5 6.7 10.9 (69)
PORT ADELAIDE 4.5 8.6 12.8 15.12 (102)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Brown 4, Waite 3, Anderson, Simpkin, Davies-Uniacke
Port Adelaide: S.Gray 4, Wingard 2, Westhoff, Houston, Neade, Johnson, Watts, Polec, R.Gray, Neade, Dixon
BEST
North Melbourne: Cunnington, Anderson, Daw, Simpkin, Clarke, Jacobs
Port Adelaide: Polec, S.Gray, Ebert, Jonas, Westhoff, Dixon
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Port Adelaide: Wingard (left hamstring)
Reports: Byrne-Jones reported for rough conduct against Ziebell in the third quarter.
Umpires: Fisher, Schmitt, Fleer
Official crowd: 17,617 at Etihad Stadium
