Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams searches far and wide for the intangible thing that will get his talented but sometimes fickle AFL team playing to their best.

In showdown week he found inspiration from Hollywood.

The Power's players, coaches and support staff went to see the film Defiance in the lead-up to Saturday night's dominant AFL victory over Adelaide.

"Defiance" is the somewhat Hollywood-ised true story of four brothers who saved 1,200 Belorussian Jews from the Holocaust by shepherding them in a forest hideaway and fighting off all Nazi efforts to annihilate them.

Summing up the Wednesday night screening, Williams found plenty to identify with in a story of courage and resourcefulness.

"It's about battling under pressure," he said.

"It's a fine line between winning and losing and it's a fine line between getting the players mentally on top of their game and not.

"If you could find exactly what that little thing is you'd win every game, but not too many people do."

Port beat the Crows by 26 points, 15.15 (105) to 12.7 (79), and in doing so accomplished all the things they failed so miserably to do against St Kilda a week before.

Winning an enormous advantage (42-22) at the clearances, the Power also shaded the contested possession count, often beating their Adelaide opponents with quick hands and superior positioning.

Showdown medallist Dean Brogan epitomised this aspect of the game, repeatedly creating spillages that allowed quick and damaging run from the contests.

When the Crows did manage to guide the ball into attack, Port were able to play out from the back with plenty of system, at various times kicking over, handballing through or chipping around the zone.

Crucial here was Steve Salopek, the running halfback whose precise disposal played a large part in picking the lock time after time.

"We were a lot calmer in those situations, we didn't get jumpy at all where in previous weeks we would've got a bit jumpy and a bit nervous but we kept our calmness," Salopek said.

"Adelaide are terrific at their discipline, run to the spots and are really well drilled so it comes back to the calmness with the ball and not panicking.

"Whenever I got the ball I just relaxed, took a breath, soaked it in and then make that decision, just believe, trust in your kick and your disposal - that's the sort of mentality I took into the game and it was good to hit a few targets, that's what I'm there for."

Port's only worry from the win was a hamstring tear for youngster Hamish Hartlett. The major challenge ahead for the Power will be to replicate the purposeful attitude they fostered for the showdown - with a little help from Hollywood.

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