Port Adelaide opened their AFL season with a nervy 15-point defeat of North Melbourne at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.

Sprinting out to a 44-point halftime lead, the Power had to shrug off a firm Kangaroos challenge before winning 13.18 (96) to 12.9 (81) in front of 21,205 spectators.

Kane Cornes' 150th consecutive game for Port was one to remember, as he won a significant amount of hard possessions to drive his side forward in addition to a consummate tagging job on Daniel Wells.

Power captain Domenic Cassisi - playing his 150th match - was also influential, while Brett Ebert played an outstanding forward's game in the wet and Dean Brogan won a majority of the hit-outs despite being stunned by a bump on quarter-time.

Kangaroos captain Brent Harvey (three goals) was typically excellent, receiving sterling support from Jack Ziebell and the hard-tackling Liam Anthony.

Hamish McIntosh, barely sighted in the first half, produced a storming finish in the ruck and up forward to help close the margin.

A wet and oddly tropical day greeted the teams, the rain not helping the cash-challenged Power's efforts to start 2010 with a healthy attendance.

North Melbourne began on the right footing, notching two of the first three goals via smooth forward movement.

But Port's intent around the contests was clear, and they gradually wrestled their way into the lion's share of possession and a 21-point lead at the first change.

Ben Warren's solid bump on Brogan as the siren blew was the only solid blow landed by the Kangaroos fore the rest of the first half, as Port stretched their margin into comprehensive territory.

They could not have entered the rooms at halftime in better spirits after watching Danyle Pearce make a firm tackle then fire through a spectacular effort from the boundary.

An early goal after the resumption by Ebert gave Port a 50-point margin, but that was chipped back to 34 by the last change as the Kangaroos fought for everything in the knowledge that the Power were capable of giving up the lead.

Port's kicking became momentarily wayward also, as they teetered on entering the kind of scenario that has been repeated far too often over the past two years.

Ultimately the Kangaroos were not quite clean enough to capitalise on their opponents' edginess, allowing Port to start the year as winners at home.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP