Port Adelaide opened its season with a hard-fought 14-point victory over North Melbourne in the wet at AAMI Stadium.
The Power held a 50-point lead early in the third quarter before they took their foot off the pedal and let the Kangaroos back into the match.
The Power held on after a spirited final term from North Melbourne where they piled on five final term goals to Port's two.
Conditions were slippery after persistent heavy rain in Adelaide made it difficult for the players and basic skill errors were evident.
North Melbourne got the first goal of the game thanks to a set shot from 50m courtesy of Leigh Adams.
The Power rallied though with some ferocious tackling, harassing the Kangaroos who were playing it short out of defence.
Port Adelaide made life difficult for the Roos with young excitement machine Cameron Hitchcock a star in the first quarter.
Hitchcock joined the elite 'first-kick-goal' club with a bomb from 50m tight against the boundary line. His intensity and tenacious tackling forced North Melbourne to cough up the ball and Danyle Pearce ran in from 10m to score a six-pointer.
Hitchcock grabbed his second, with Brett Ebert scoring off the ground and Thomas adding another.
Dean Brogan collided heavily with Ben Warren late in the quarter as the Power went into first break with a 21-point lead.
Port Adelaide continued its aggressive start in the second quarter and blew the Kangaroos out of the contest with a whopping 32 to 10 inside 50m.
Port Adelaide asserted its authority leading the tackles 49 to North Melbourne's 33.
Jay Schulz continued to impress on his Power debut with some amazing second efforts and tormented the North Melbourne defenders.
Just before half time he showed his determination and after a monster tackle played a nice one-two with Pearce. The speedy left footer ran on to the return handball and scored the goal of the game with a curling 50m shot from the boundary for his second.
The Power doubled its score in the second quarter to take a 44 point lead into the major break while the Kangaroos could only manage two goals through David Hale and Brent Harvey.
Kane Cornes celebrated his 150th consecutive match with an outstanding display in the first half racking up 21 possessions.
Captain Dom Cassisi had 15 in his 150th while Jacob Surjan appeared to be enjoying his new role at the club as vice-captain with 10 crucial touches across half back.
Brody Rawling battled hard for North Melbourne with 19 touches and Michael Firrito was having a tough afternoon with 15 disposals across the back.
The Kangaroos opened up the second half matching the Power's ferocity and had the hosts on the back foot.
North Melbourne added three goals to reduce the deficit to 34 points at three quarter time and it could well have been more if not for the post twice saving Port's blushes.
David Hale nailed his second with Harvey and Warren also doubling their personal tally.
The Power was wasteful managing 1.5 as North Melbourne matched the intensity shown by the home side in the first half.
The visitors continued to chip away at the margin in the last quarter as Lindsay Thomas converted two majors and big men Hale and Hamish McIntosh each adding a goal.
Port struggled to gather any momentum and kill-off North Melbourne as the visitors got as close as 15 points late in the final quarter.
The Kangaroos added five goals in the last quarter with big man McIntosh outstanding in helping the visitors claw their way back into the match.
Kane Cornes was stunning for the Power finishing with 39 disposals to dispel any talk pre-season his place in the squad was under fire.
Port's debutants also stood out with Hitchcock dangerous in the forward pocket and Mitchell Banner impressive around the ground.
Late withdrawels Robbie Gray and Daniel Motlop were replaced in the side by Matt Thomas and Scott Harding.
PORT ADELAIDE: 5.4 10.10 11.15 13.18 (96)
NORTH MELBOURNE: 2.1 4.2 7.5 12.10 (82)
GOALS:
Port Adelaide: Pearce 2, Hitchcock 2, Ebert 2, Tredrea 2, Cassisi, Westhoff, Banner, Davenport
North Melbourne: Harvey 3, Hale 2, Warren 2, Thomas 2, McIntosh 2, Adams,
BEST:
Port Adelaide: K. Cornes, Brogan, Schulz, Cassisi, Hitchcock, Boak
North Melbourne: Harvey, McIntosh, Rawlings, Anthony, Firrito
INJURIES:
Port Adelaide: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil
UMPIRES: Dean Margetts, Robert Findlay, Michael Avon
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
Port Adelaide: OUT: Motlop, Gray IN; Harding, Thomas
North Melbourne: Nil
CROWD: 21,205 at AAMI Stadium