It was far from pretty, but Port Adelaide breathed some life back into their 2009 AFL season with a gritty 24-point victory over the undermanned Fremantle Dockers at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night.

The Power began sleepily, conceding a 20-point lead to Fremantle inside the first 15 minutes of the contest and trailing at halftime, before gradually asserting themselves to record a 14.10 (94) to 11.4 (70) win in front of 18,418 shivering spectators.

Port's performance was closer to the sort of ensemble effort players and coaching staff have agreed must be produced in order to win games, as Kane Cornes, captain Domenic Cassisi, David Rodan (three goals), Jacob Surjan and Brendon Lade all contributed.

Recalled pair Justin Westhoff (two goals) and Toby Thurstans did some important things at either end of the ground to vindicate their inclusions, and Troy Chaplin fought hard to curb the influence of Matthew Pavlich.

Fremantle received unstinting efforts from the likes of Aaron Sandilands and Paul Duffield, but too many players faded after a strong start, gifted tyro Garrick Ibbotson among them.

The Dockers had been forced to make sundry changes to the side that lost to Richmond last week, and they were given another injury concern when youngster Adam Campbell was concussed in an accidental collision with Sandilands.

Both sides had made late changes on a slippery night, Hayden Ballantyne dropping out for the Dockers and replaced by Michael Walters while Robbie Gray succumbed to gastro to allow Westhoff his first game since a leg fracture in round two.

The Dockers made a rapid start to be 20 points clear inside 15 minutes.

Port belatedly kicked into gear, helped by a five-minute stop in play when Campbell was knocked out cold after making contact with Sandilands and then the firm stadium turf, and by the first change only five points separated the sides.

There was more of the see-saw in the second, Scott Thornton's meaningful work up forward being neutralised somewhat by intermittent Dockers turnovers that allowed Port to keep close.

Two goals in three minutes entering time-on took Port to the front, but a hopeful effort from debutant Clancee Pearce floated through to leave the Dockers narrowly clear.

Port began the second half as they would have liked to start the first, Marlon Motlop running into goal inside a minute to set the trend for a term where the Power would put their stamp on things.

Crucial in this was Rodan, who dodged and weaved in his inimitable fashion to notch two vital majors that helped put Port 20 points clear at the last change.

In a slogging final term this proved more than enough to keep the Power safe, as the combination of home determination and unhelpful conditions prevented Fremantle from mounting a meaningful challenge.

The Power will be without Travis Boak for at least a month with a medial ligament strain.

Port coach Mark Williams praised his players for a far more even effort than they had exhibited in recent weeks.

"It was a really important win for the club tonight having lost the last two," he said.

"The players really delivered on their efforts."

Dockers coach Mark Harvey said circumstances had conspired to cause his side to trail off, not for the first time this year.

"You lose a player early in the game again, then you've got some younger players who naturally, as the game progresses, get tired," he said.

"Those two goals late in the third quarter put space in the game for Port and they were able to control things a bit better in that last quarter.

"What I am pleased about is our effort at the moment but just at crucial times we are offending what we need to get better at in order to win these games."

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