Caretaker Matthew Primus has completed an imposing audition for the Port Adelaide coaching job with a 10-point AFL win over Richmond.

The Power held off a frenetic Richmond comeback to hold on 18.14 (122) to 16.16 (112) on Sunday at Etihad Stadium.

While the result spoilt Ben Cousins' farewell game, it was Port's fifth win in seven games since Primus took from Mark Williams as coach.

Primus is the No.1 candidate for the job beyond this season, but is resigned to possibly waiting until grand final week before knowing his long-term fate at Alberton.

"Obviously it was a great opportunity seven weeks ago and I still want it as much as I did then," he said.

"The club's given me a time line of grand final week (when) it'll be announced - if it's that long, it's that long."

The Power set up the win with a 10.2 rampage in the second term, equalling the club record for the most goals in a quarter.

The Tigers were 59 points down early in the second half, but suddenly turned the game around.

Richmond kicked six goals to two in the third term to trail by only 28 points at the last change.

After another four goals early in the final term, Troy Taylor appeared to put the Tigers in front.

But Taylor's goal was disallowed because of a Port free and the Power then rallied with three goals to kill off the challenge.

"I was celebrating like a two-bob watch on the sidelines there, I didn't realise," Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said of the Taylor non-goal.

"Listen, letter of the law it's there. The free kick's there."

Hardwick described their second quarter as "horrendous", but praised his players for not giving up.

"Whenever you're 10 goals down, as harsh as it is, you don't deserve to be anywhere near the game," he said.

"We fought our backsides off that last quarter, I was really proud of the guys.

"We spoke at half-time 'this game can go one of two ways. It's either a 100-point blowout or we can get some respect back'."

Primus said Port had succeeded in the goal they set when he took over as coach, to win all their home games in the remainder of the season and also win on the road.

"It's a credit to the players, because it's very easy with seven weeks to go to not get too much out of the season," Primus said.

"Hopefully they've proven to each other that were a young group going forward."

Richmond have also improved in Hardwick's first season as coach, finishing with six wins, but he stressed the hard work has only started.

"You're asking a coach if he's satisfied? We're never satisfied," he said.

"There's always room for improvement, the day we stop trying to improve is the day I stop coaching."

Cousins and team-mate Graham Polak, who has also retired, were chaired from the field after the match.

Clearly hampered by a hamstring injury he suffered a week ago, Cousins still managed 21 disposals.

"It's amazing the crowd he brings to the place," Hardwick said of Cousins.

"Listen, you'll always miss the infectious nature of 'Cuz'. I'm sure he'll be around at some stage."

Port midfielder Travis Boak was best afield with 31 disposals, while Richmond's Coleman Medallist Jack Riewoldt kicked three goals to end the season with 78.

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