Adelaide’s has started its 2018 SANFL campaign with a heavy defeat, going down to a strong Port Adelaide outfit by 95 points at Alberton Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The Magpies, featuring 17 AFL listed players, dominated proceedings after half-time, with 14 goals to two after the main break giving the home side a comfortable 19.14 (128) to 4.9 (33) victory.

State League Coach Ryan O'Keefe lamented his side's contested work across the ground, with the Crows losing the contested possession count (124-149) and clearances (24-40).

“We got beaten around the contest with the clearances, and that hurts, but we were beaten by a better side on the day,” he said.

First-gamer Patrick Wilson was one of the Crows’ best players with 26 disposals, which included 14 contested possessions, seven marks, seven clearances, seven inside 50s and a goal.

Rookie Jackson Edwards finished with 17 touches, a team-high seven tackles and an early goal of the year contender after slotting a brilliant snap from the boundary line in the third quarter.

O'Keefe also had praise for Kyle Cheney, Ben Davis and ruckman Reilly O'Brien.

“Cheney was really good before he got injured, Benny Davis showed some signs, the more footy he is playing the better,” O'Keefe said.

“Big Reilly O’Brien is really competing and as captain of the day, he battled all day which was good and hopefully he keeps getting better and better.

“We got some good education tools out of that, it’s going to be a really good test during the week to see how they bounce back now.”

The undermanned SANFL Crows played the majority of the second half with just one player on the interchange bench.

Defender Kyle Cheney had ice on his right hamstring in the third quarter after experiencing hamstring tightness and will be assessed further in the coming days, while development squad member Aidan Offe suffered concussion and played no further part in the game after half time.

ADELAIDE                0.3        2.4         3.4            4.9 (33)
PORT ADELAIDE       3.6     5.10     15.11     19.14 (128)

GOALS
Adelaide: Signorello, O’Brien, Edwards, Wilson
Port Adelaide: Thomas 6, Kluske 3, Frampton 2, Johnson 2, Atley, Proude, Snelling, Patmore

BEST
Adelaide: Davey, O’Brien, Davis, Jarman, Wilson, Venning, Cheney