Sydney found something extra in the dying minutes to outlast Port Adelaide and claim a rousing 11-point AFL victory over the Power at an enthralled AAMI Stadium.

A freewheeling start had taken the Swans to a two goal advantage they held for much of the day, but a frenzied final quarter by Port took the home side to the front and it took a late trio of Swans goals to claim the win, 16.9 (105) to 14.10 (94).

As is now customary, the Swans had an even effort across the board, but could not have won without the class of Adam Goodes, the gutsy work of Brett Kirk, a star-turn by tough youngster Jarred Moore and some excellent work off half back by ex-Crow Martin Mattner.

Michael O'Loughlin and Jarrad McVeigh (two goals each) popped up to score at vital times.

The Power are now a disconsolate 3-6 to start the season, and will again rue a match they had every chance to win.

Brett Ebert (six goals) and Warren Tredrea (three) played expert games up forward, and received support through the middle from Steve Salopek and Dom Cassisi.

Brendon Lade and Dean Brogan responded to a rocket from coach Mark Williams by shading the ruck battle, though they will lament being unable to generate clean stoppage work at the death.

Port have struggled against Sydney's hard, team defence-oriented blueprint in the past, but in the first quarter on Saturday they were beaten at their own, free-flowing game in one of the more entertaining - and at 36 minutes 21 seconds lengthy - openings of 2008.

In ideal conditions the Swans fired through eight goals for the term, Ryan O'Keefe a genuine danger and Moore nailing a spectacular major with what could only be described as a "battering ram" effort that took him past three Power opponents.

At the other end Port's forward line was also posing a danger, and Ebert's trio of goals, the last from a horrid pass by Nick Malceski, kept the home side in touch at the change.

They more than held their own in the second and third, winning plenty of the ball and restricting Sydney's attacking freedom in the process.

The Swans, though, are hardly averse to a scrap and scrounged enough opportunities to claim a 14-point last change gap.

Within two minutes of the re-start that was down to two as Port finally found some quick goals, to Peter Burgoyne and Daniel Motlop, to reward their work around the ground.

After an interminable wait considering their dominance of possession Motlop goaled again to take Port to the lead and seemingly the points.

But the Swans summoned one more effort, Moore kicking truly on the break then unlikely hero Schmidt winning a free in the pocket and coolly slotting home with a banana.

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