ADELAIDE has squandered a third-quarter lead to go down by 55 points in the first AFL match at a redeveloped Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Port Adelaide, inspired by midfielders Hamish Hartlett and Brad Ebert, claimed a historic 19.14 (128) to 11.7 (73) victory.
Port forwards Jay Schulz and Chad Wingard shared seven goals between themselves before a sell-out 50,397 crowd at the newly completed stadium, which officially reopened after a $535 million redevelopment.
Adelaide recruit Eddie Betts potted four goals but the Power prevailed after withstanding a third-term challenge from their enemy.
Port had skipped to a 28-point break early in the second quarter, only for the Crows to fight back and take the lead when Brodie Smith goaled on the run 13 minutes into the third term. Smith's blow sparked an emphatic Port reply: it kicked the next five goals in a 14-minute purple patch and led by 30 points at three-quarter time.
Port's victory was well-deserved after it dominated early: ruckman Matthew Lobbe became the answer to a trivia question when he kicked the first goal at the newly-completed oval just 76 seconds into the game.
Lobbe's blow set the tone for Port, whose big guns Justin Westhoff, Hartlett and Gray all fired to help create a 5.4 to 1.0 quarter-time lead.
But the Crows, despite a succession of basic skill blunders, clawed their way back into the contest thanks to their prized recruit Betts.
The ex-Carlton goalsneak scored three goals in the second term as Adelaide reduced the deficit to 18 points at half-time.
Betts added another in the third before Smith's long bomb gave the Crows the lead for the first time in the match.
But Port responded with aplomb, kicking 11 of the last 14 goals of the game.
Hartlett capped his outstanding game with a goal early in the last term which sealed consecutive victories for the Power this season, while Adelaide remains winless.
Crows coach Brenton Sanderson said his side was "jumped" early and was left to rue its poor skills.
"They certainly jumped us, we couldn't get our hands on the footy and when we did we kicked it straight to them," Sanderson said.
"They certainly punished us on the scoreboard by our fundamental skill errors.
"Only, I think, two goals were scored by Port from stoppages, the rest were scored from turnovers."
PORT ADELAIDE 5.4 7.8 12.11 19.14 (128)
ADELAIDE 1.1 5.2 8.15 11.7 (73)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Wingard 4, Schulz 3, Gray, Wines, White 2, Lobbe, Ebert, Westhoff, Boak, Butcher, Hartlett
Adelaide: Betts 4, Grigg 2, Johnston, Douglas, Smith, Kerridge, Podsiadly
BEST
Port Adelaide: Hartlett, Ebert, Cornes, Wingard, Schulz, Polec
Adelaide: Sloane, Douglas, Betts, Thompson, Smith,Grigg
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Polec (cut head)
Adelaide: Crouch (leg), Shaw (wrist), McKernan (blurred vision)
SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Alipate Carlile replaced by Matt White at three quarter-time
Adelaide: Lewis Johnston replaced by Jason Porplyzia in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fleer, Schmitt, Pannell
Official crowd: 50,397 at Adelaide Oval
