Port Adelaide open their 2013 AFL campaign in style, demolishing the Demons by 79-points at the MCG.
THE Ken Hinkley era has started with a bang.
The man entrusted with rebuilding Port Adelaide yesterday became only the second Power coach to win his first game in charge.
In leading the Power to a 79-point thrashing of fellow battler Melbourne at the MCG - Port's biggest win in six years - Hinkley joined premiership coach Mark Williams as the only men to start their Power coaching careers with premiership points.
John Cahill, Matthew Primus and Garry Hocking, the latter two in caretaker roles, all began with defeats.
"It was really promising, especially for the boys," said Hinkley.
Lights out for Dees as Power surges
"We've had such a promising pre-season but you do go into round one with a few nerves and questions about whether we are able to keep going and continue to do what we've been able to do."
Hinkley, taking over a side which hasn't made the finals since 2007, promised Port would play brave, attacking football and his players delivered in bucketloads.
Port Adelaide's Kane Mitchell and Oliver Wines celebrate as they sing the team song in the dressing rooms after their round one win over Melbourne at the MCG. Picture: Scott Barbour
Fielding six players wearing the Power jumper for the first time - debutants Ollie Wines, Jake Neade and Kane Mitchell and the recycled Angus Monfries, Campbell Heath and Lewis Stevenson - Port dominated the match from the outset.
It kicked three unanswered goals in the opening 10 minutes and won every quarter.
Former Swan Heath's last-minute goal pushed Port's lead past the 78 points it smashed Melbourne by at AAMI Stadium in round 21, 2008.
The 79-point win was its biggest since annihilating North Melbourne by 87 points in the 2007 preliminary final.
In a red-letter day for the club:
ITS score of 19.19 (133) was its biggest since kicking 22.15 against Melbourne in round three, 2009.
THE Power's run and ball movement was superb, with quick breaks through the middle of the ground and plenty of options presented by leading forwarrds.
Port Adelaide's Jackson Trengove and Jordie McKenzie of the Demons compete for the ball. Picture: Scott Barbour
ITS skill level, in the past two years the laughing stock of the league, was of an extremely high standard.
PORT won convincingly without five of last year's first-choice players - former captain Dom Cassisi, full back Alipate Carlile and forwards Robbie Gray, John Butcher and Brett Ebert - who could all be available for selection against GWS in the club's home opener on Saturday night.
TRAVIS Boak led from the front in his first game as captain, gathering 26 disposals and a game-high 11 clearances.
THE Power, described as a basket case under Primus, played strong, hard, disciplined, team football and displayed a killer streak in finishing off the Dees.
IT played with an in-your-face mentality, emphasised when Boak, Kane Cornes and Brad Ebert gave it to Demon Cameron Pedersen when he dropped his head in a marking contest.
MUCH-HERALDED first-round draft pick Ollie Wines lived up to the hype, with 16 of his 24 disposals being contested.
INJURY-PLAGUED midfielder Hamish Hartlett backed up his strong pre-season with a superb, 29-disposal display which included two long goals.
Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak is tackled by Melbourne's Jack Viney. Picture: Scott Barbour
FORWARD Jay Schulz took a mark of the year contender and recycled recruits Monfries, Heath and Stevenson showed they would be worth the investment.
Melbourne's only shining light was the debut of hard-nosed teenager Jack Viney, who was outstanding.
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