NORTH Melbourne withstood a stunning last quarter fightback by Port Adelaide to notch its third win of the season by just five points at Docklands on Saturday night.   

The impressive Roos led by as much as 31 points in the third quarter before the Power surged to trail by just two goals mid-way through the final term.

The Kangas answered with the next three majors and looked to have the premiership points in their keeping, but Port launched a withering four-goal burst that saw the margin slashed to just five points with 1:49 left on the clock.

With every North Melbourne player behind the ball the thrilling finale was played out entirely in the Power's forward half with a series of grueling stoppages before the final siren sounded with the Roos victorious 20.5 (125) to 18.12 (120).

Earlier in the term, Port's players didn't look to have it in them. The loss of Steven Salopek and Kane Cornes to serious looking shoulder injuries made the late charge even more surprising.

Daniel Wells was outstanding in his first game back from a hip injury with 26 high-quality possessions, while Adam Simpson (27 touches), Andrew Swallow (27) and Jack Ziebell (23) were all important.

Kane Cornes was his side's highest possession winner with 29 before he left the field while skipper Domenic Cassissi (27) and Travis Boak (26) worked hard all night.

North had 12 different goal kickers with Matt Campbell and Aaron Edwards leading the way with three apiece.

The Roos' cause wasn't helped by the late withdrawals of Brady Rawlings and Gavin Urquhart but, if they were concerned, it didn't show early on.

Port was expected to have too much pace for the home side, but the Kangaroos generated the majority of the early of scoring opportunities and held a deserved 13-point lead 10 minutes in thanks to goals from Ziebell and Campbell. 

The Power slowly worked into the contest, however, with the mercurial Daniel Motlop kick starting the visitors, before former skipper Warren Tredrea drew the sides level with his first major.

Leigh Harding was proving dangerous up forward and did well to mark and goal twice from opposite sides of the 50m arc, but with two seconds remaining in the term, Boak found space to slash the deficit to just six points.

The five-goal return had been North's most productive quarter of the season and they quickly went one better as they wrested control of the game in the second. 

David Rodan gave Port its first, and only, lead of the night when Motlop gifted him a goal at the five-minute mark, but it was all the Roos after that.

Wells became a factor with nine possessions helping to drive the surge while Edwards, who was rarely sighted in the first quarter, sprang into action up forward with three goals to put the Power on the back foot.

Former Cat Jason Davenport's first goal in AFL footy was Port's only other bright spot in a dim quarter that saw them trail by 31 points at the main break.

After a flat first half, Port served notice early in the second, with Tredrea and Nathan Krakouer goaling inside five minutes to give their side just the start it needed.

Despite the Power surge, the Kangaroos looked to have enough in reserve to match it with goals to Swallow, Campbell and Lindsay Thomas maintaining a 30-point lead late in the third.

The Power suffered a blow when Salopek left the game with a dislocated shoulder, but his teammates did him proud in his absence, with Chad Cornes finishing a late three-goal burst to make it a 13-point game.

David Hale's snap looked to have given the Roos an insurmountable lead, but Rodan scored his second to spark the surge that set up the thrilling finale.

Port Adelaide: Warren Tredrea 3, Brett Ebert 2, Travis Boak 2, David Rodan 2, Brendon Lade 2, Daniel Motlop 2, Jason Davenport, Nathan Krakouer, Chad Cornes, Dean Brogan, Troy Chaplin

Best
North Melbourne: Daniel Wells, Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell, Aaron Edwards, Matt Campbell, Hamish McIntosh

Port Adelaide: Travis Boak, Kane Cornes, Domenic Cassisi, Troy Chaplin, Warren Tredrea

Port Adelaide: Steven Salopek (shoulder), Kane Cornes (shoulder).

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.