Port Adelaide held off a wasteful but spirited Adelaide to clinch Showdown XXXVIII by 24 points at Adelaide Oval on Sunday night.
Jay Schulz backed up his five-goal effort against Hawthorn last week with another goal-kicking showcase, while Robbie Gray (32 possessions, 11 clearances, one goal), Brad Ebert (31 possessions, seven tackles) and Travis Boak (33 disposals, one goal) were dominant through the midfield.
Gray's performance earned him the Showdown Medal as best afield in the 18.7 (115) to 13.13 (91) victory.
Eddie Betts was a lone star up forward for the Crows with five goals and Patrick Dangerfield put in a typically tough, inside performance with 36 possessions and 13 clearances.
The Crows controlled clearances and dominated inside 50s but lacked composure for the most part, while the Power were ruthlessly effective in attack.
Despite the victory, Port coach Ken Hinkley was concerned by his side's massive discrepancy in the inside 50 count for the second week in a row.
"We can't play footy like that all year. You won't survive if you continue to give up that many entries," he said.
"Last year we were an elite defending inside 50s team.
"We're miles off that at the moment so there's lots of room to improve."
Adelaide threatened on numerous occasions throughout the second half, but each time Port was able to ease the pressure where it mattered most – on the scoreboard.
Crows coach Phil Walsh was left to lament his side's inability to take its chances.
"We had the ball down our end enough to do some damage on the scoreboard but we weren't able to do that," he said.
"I would have liked to have thought in that second quarter and into the third quarter, if we'd actually kicked a couple of goals and got in front I think the stadium was ready to erupt for us.”
After an even start to the game Port began to find the space required to nail its attacking entries.
Good delivery made for easy chances in front of goal as suggested by the Power's 4-1 advantage for marks inside 50 at quarter-time.
Adelaide's inability to use the ball when in possession continued into the second term; the difference between the sides highlighted by an unforced turnover that quickly resulted in Schulz's third major against the run of play.
The Crows were dominating clearances and attacked relentlessly but was unable to find any value by foot, disposing of the ball at just 19 per cent inside forward 50.
The players' lack of poise was cringe-worthy at times, but they somehow trailed by just 17 points at the main break courtesy of another spectacular goal from Betts deep in his self-titled pocket.
The little magician struck again early in the third, spinning through three opponents to snap a miraculous goal and Adelaide appeared to have been ignited.
Betts had a fifth midway through the term and Taylor Walker bombed his second, but the side's kicking woes still kept any lead at arm's reach.
Veteran Crow Scott Thompson twice snapped truly in the last quarter to offer his side hope, but ultimately the Power had all the answers when questioned.
With the game on the line in the final term they kicked three straight goals to snuff out any hope of a Crows comeback.
Rubbing salt into Adelaide's wounds, star midfielder Rory Sloane was subbed out of the game late with a calf injury, while defender Ricky Henderson hurt his shoulder.
ADELAIDE 2.3 4.8 9.11 13.13 (91)
PORT ADELAIDE 5.1 8.1 12.6 18.7 (115)
GOALS
Adelaide: Betts 5, Walker 2, Jenkins 2, Thompson 2, Lynch 2
Port Adelaide: Schulz 5, Ryder 3, Hartlett 2, Mitchell 2, Westhoff 2, Wingard 2, Gray, Boak
BEST
Adelaide: Betts, Dangerfield, Thompson, Ellis-Yolmen, Lynch
Port Adelaide: Gray, Boak, Ebert, Schulz, Pittard, Hartlett, Ryder
INJURIES
Adelaide: Sloane (calf)
Port Adelaide: nil
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Matthew Wright replaced Rory Sloane (calf) in the final quarter
Port Adelaide: Jared Polec replaced Jackson Trengove in the final quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fisher, Dalgleish, Stevic
Official crowd: 50,509 at Adelaide Oval
