Port Adelaide's bionic onballer David Rodan inspired his side to a 10-point upset of St Kilda in the AFL match at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night.

Rodan, who underwent a knee reconstruction four and a half months ago, was instrumental in the Power dealing St Kilda their first defeat of the season.

Port kicked three goals to none in the last quarter to prevail 7.12 (54) to 6.8 (44) in a pressure-packed encounter.

Power forwards Brett Ebert, Warren Tredrea and Jay Schulz each kicked two goals while Saint livewire Adam Schneider snared three majors for the visitors.

Rodan was playing just his second AFL match since opting for radical LARS surgery last October, in which synthetic material was used to repair his injured knee.

The midfielder was dynamic, gathering 27 disposals in a best afield display, and was well supported by the likes of defensive linchpin Troy Chaplin (32 possessions, 12 marks) and sweeping half-back Steven Salopek.

In contrast, the Saints relied too heavily on Schneider, prolific onballer Leigh Montagna (36 disposals) and defenders Sam Gilbert and Sam Fisher.

The Power trailed by six points at the last change but produced a sterling finale despite kicking into the win, and justifiably recorded their third win of the season.

The home side were jumped early by the Saints, who kicked the initial three goals of the game to steal an early break.

But the scoreboard advantage did not do justice to general play, with Port dominant around the ground but blowing a series of scoring chances.

The Power's waste was evidence by the halftime scoreline - they were a sloppy 2.7 to the Saints' 4.4 at the long break.

A tense third term reaped two goals each for both sides, including a goal of the year contender by St Kilda goalsneak Stephen Milne.

Milne, pinned on the boundary line in a forward pocket, launched a mid-air soccer kick from the tightest of angles and watched the bail spiral through in a modern miracle.

But Milne's feat and his St Kilda teammates were overpowered in the last stanza, as Port kicked 3.1 to St Kilda's 0.3 to seal a gutsy triumph.

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams hailed the victory as one to savour.

"That was terrific," he said.

"There is no doubt we have been watching St Kilda for a couple of years now, they do some wonderful things and play tough, hard footy.

"If you win against them, if you are lucky enough to do that, you have really earnt it."

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon lamented his side's inability to find a trusty forward avenue, especially in the last quarter when they failed to score a goal from 13 entries into their attacking 50 metre zone.

"I don't think we walk away tonight thinking we were no hope in the game," Lyon said.

"I thought we were every chance at three quarter time.

"It's not like us to be 10 points up, then win the contested ball and win the clearances and have 13 entries (into the 50m zone) and not score enough to win.

"It was a missed opportunity in the end."

The Saints face the Western Bulldogs next Friday night while Port meets cross-town rivals Adelaide on Saturday.

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