First quarter: Port Adelaide 1.3.3 (30) to Melbourne 2.2 (14)
It couldn’t have been a more frustrating start for Melbourne, when Angus Brayshaw injured his knee and was taken from the ground in the opening seconds.
Things didn’t improve for Melbourne when Port Adelaide booted the first three goals – two consecutively from Justin Westhoff and a nine-pointer from Matthew Broadbent.
Jeff Garlett opened Melbourne’s account at 12-minute mark, before Christian Salem kicked a classy goal on the run in the latter part of the term.
Power forward John Butcher had the chance to extend his side’s lead, when he had a shot for goal after the quarter-time siren, but his kick hit the post.
At the first break, Port Adelaide led by 16 points.
Second quarter: Port Adelaide 1.6.5 (50) to Melbourne 4.3 (27)
Jesse Hogan reduced the deficit back to nine points when he kicked the first goal of the second term.
But the Power answered with three in a row to jump out to a 30-point lead.
Cam Pedersen landed Melbourne’s second for the term in time-on and at half-time the home side held a 23-point advantage.
Third quarter: Melbourne 10.5 (65) to Port Adelaide 1.6.5 (50)
Melbourne produced an outstanding third term, booting six goals to zip – claiming a 15-point lead at three quarter-time.
It was a first-class term by the red and blue, after it trailed by five goals at the 20-minute mark of the second term.
From Pedersen’s goal in the second quarter, Melbourne kicked seven in succession.
Dean Kent, Ben Kennedy, Matt Jones, Garlett, James Harmes and Aaron vandenBerg kicked the goals.
The Power was held goalless, after Robbie Gray’s shot for goal landed after the three quarter-time siren.
Final quarter: Melbourne 15.5 (95) d Port Adelaide 1.10.7 (76)
Although Justin Westhoff landed his third – and kicked Port Adelaide’s first goal of the second half in the opening minute of the final term – it mattered little as Melbourne answered the challenge.
Melbourne kicked three in a row – via vandenBerg, Pedersen and Kent, who each registered their second goal.
Kent’s major gave his side a 27-point lead at the 10-minute mark.
Although Aaron Young added the Power’s second for the term, when Garlett had a few bounces and booted his third and Dom Tyson kicked truly, Melbourne was home.
In the end, the red and blue won by 19 points.
Quarter by quarter: Melb v PA
Check out the details from Melbourne’s clash against the Power