MELBOURNE has suffered a second straight NAB Cup mauling, going down to Port Adelaide by 48 points at AAMI Stadium on Friday night.

A week after a comprehensive loss to Hawthorn, the Demons were soundly beaten again, with a bad night compounded by an injury to Colin Sylvia.

Sylvia copped the brunt of Port's John Butcher, who was reported for rough conduct in the final quarter after a late, mid-air collision.

Sylvia landed heavily on his hip and back and was stretchered from the ground. The incident sparked an all-in melee, with every player on the field involved.

It wasn't the only injury concern for the Demons, with young forward Jeremy Howe collected by teammate Mitch Clark, suffering a cut head.
 
Melbourne coach Mark Neeld put the loss down to a new coaching group trialling a fresh game plan. One, he admitted, was yet to be perfected.
 
"We're trialling a new defensive system," Neeld said.
 
"In old terms, they were zinging the footy around and we struggled to get it back.
 
"There were a few boys that hesitated and, irrespective of the sport, if you're going to play a defensive system that involves everyone it only takes one or two to be off slightly and you fall apart."

Ruckman Mark Jamar was the clear standout with a dominant effort in the ruck.

Jamar finished the game with 45 hit-outs, while Nathan Jones kicked two goals and racked up 22 possessions.

Brent Moloney, Aaron Davey and James Frawley were also in fine touch for the visitors.

After slotting the opening five goals against Fremantle last week, the Power again bolted out of the blocks with a six-goal-to-two first term.

Despite Jamar dominating the ruck, Port clearly won the midfield battle through Boak, Ebert and Cornes, while Pearce was instrumental running off half back.
 
The Demons hit back in the second, with goals to Clark and Jones and when Ricky Petterd goaled the margin had been cut to 20 points.

But Port pulled away in the last, rounding out an impressive pre-season.

PORT ADELAIDE       6.3    8.7    13.7     17.10 (112)
MELBOURNE              2.1    4.4     7.8      9.10  (64)

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Schulz 3, Broadbent, Ebert, Pfeiffer, Young 2, Gray, Logan, McCarthy, Stewart, Thomas, Jonas
Melbourne: Clark 3, Jones, Blease 2, Petterd, Davey

BEST
Port Adelaide: Pearce, Ebert, Cornes, Gray, Boak, Broadbent
Melbourne: Jamar, Jones, Davey, Frawley, Moloney, Rivers

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Trengove (finger)
Melbourne: Howe (cut head), Silvia (hip, back)

Reports: John Butcher (rough conduct)

Umpires: Dalgleish, Stewart, Fila

Crowd: Approx. 2500 at AAMI Stadium