North Melbourne have crashed a sparsely attended farewell party for Port Adelaide retirees Brendon Lade and Peter Burgoyne, with a four-point AFL win on Saturday night.

Only 17,284 - the smallest crowd to ever watch an AFL match at AAMI Stadium - turned out for the fixture, which had been rendered academic by Essendon's victory over Hawthorn.

The Bombers win over the reigning premiers had made it impossible for the Power to make the finals.

Their resolve to win for Lade and Burgoyne was stretched by horrible weather and ultimately broken by the fighting Kangaroos, who reeled in a 20-point deficit in the third term to win 10.11 (71) to 9.13 (67).

Port had claimed the lead in the dying minutes via Brett Ebert's third goal, but Scott McMahon's mark on the edge of the 50m arc proved to be a turning point when a penalty was awarded against Nathan Krakouer for pushing the marker.

On a rough night for forwards, Drew Petrie's three goals were vital for the Kangaroos, while skipper Brent Harvey, Josh Gibson, Liam Anthony, Brady Rawlings and Cruize Garlett all made contributions.

Petrie's eventful night also featured a report for striking Alipate Carlile, and Troy Chaplin was also cited for the Power in a contest that verged on the spiteful at times.

Power captain Domenic Cassisi - conspicuous in the head bandage he has sported for several weeks - fought hard as usual for his side, while Kane and Chad Cornes, youngster Matthew Broadbent and Dean Brogan also did well.

Earlier results and miserable weather had lent an understandably flat air to the occasion, and contributed to the presence of the poor crowd, which outstripped the 18,193 who saw Port play Geelong in 2002.

The Power were 13 points clear at halftime before heavy rain turned the match into even more of a slog.

The hosts missed a chance to make the game safe after booting the first two goals of the third quarter allowing North to regain traction with the final three goals of the period.

Harvey's long range effort gave the 'Roos the lead early in the last quarter and they held it for much of the quarter.

Ebert bobbed up near the end and appeared to seal the points for the Power, but McMahon's mark and Krakouer's transgression handed the win to North.

Kangaroos caretaker coach Darren Crocker said the win had all the hallmarks of a typically feisty performance by his club.

"I suppose people will look at it as a typical North Melbourne win, under difficult circumstances and in tough conditions," he said.

"Port Adelaide were up for the game, they wanted to send off two champion players in the right manner.

"We were always going to be up against it and it's a credit to the guys the way they found a way to get over the line."

Port coach Mark Williams admitted the loss summed up his side's season.

"It's a terrible way to finish, but it reflects our year, very inconsistent," he said.

Williams forecast a sweeping review of all levels of the club in the off-season following a second successive year of underachievement.

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