First quarter: Melbourne 2.7 (19) to Port Adelaide 2.4 (16)
The opening term was dominated by wasted opportunities in front of goal.
Both teams had their chances, particularly Melbourne, which booted seven behinds from its nine scoring shots.
Although Jack Watts kicked the first goal of the day, Melbourne landed seven behinds before it registered its second via Jesse Hogan.
Port Adelaide managed two majors for the term through Jarman Impey and Charlie Dixon.
At the first change, Melbourne led by three points.
Second quarter: Port Adelaide 7.6 (48) to Melbourne 3.8 (26)
The quarter had a promising start when Hogan marked strongly and lined up for his second in the opening minute. Instead, he managed Melbourne’s eighth behind for the match.
From that point, the Power dominated the term, booting six goals to two.
Max Gawn and Hogan, who booted his second, were Melbourne’s only goalscorers for the quarter.
Dixon booted three for the quarter to have four by half-time, while Chad Wingard, Hamish Hartlett and Travis Boak were the other contributors.
At the main break, Port Adelaide led by 21 points.
Third quarter: Port Adelaide 12.11 (83) to Melbourne 9.12 (66)
Port Adelaide continued to hold sway early in the second half.
The Power broke away to a 35-point lead early in the third term after Dougal Howard and Robbie Gray booted the first two goals of the quarter.
Just as the game looked to be slipping away from Melbourne, it sparked a revival, booting five of the next seven goals.
Watts and Gawn registered their second goal each, with Alex Neal-Bullen, Jeff Garlett and Dean Kent getting on the board.
Entering the final change, Melbourne trailed by 17 points.
Final quarter: Port Adelaide 18.13 (121) defeated Melbourne 10.16 (76)
With Melbourne just three goals down, the red and blue was still within reach of notching up its first win in Alice Springs.
But when Aaron Young booted his second to open the final term, it was also the start of another dominant period by the Power.
Port Adelaide piled on six goals for the term.
Hogan was Melbourne’s goalkicker for the quarter at the 26-minute mark.
And when Dixon kicked his fifth goal and the Power’s last for the day, it won by 45 points.
