PORT Adelaide, with Jason Horne-Francis tormenting his ex-teammates and new club alike, has held off a plucky North Melbourne for a gruelling nine-point win.
The Power banked a third consecutive victory with their 14.13 (97) to 13.10 (88) triumph at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
POWER v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats
Horne-Francis dominated his former Roos teammates with 27 disposals, seven inside 50s and a goal.
But he also caused some grief for his own club, involved in animated discussion with coach Ken Hinkley, captain Connor Rozee and vice-captain Zak Butters at three-quarter time.
Horne-Francis had just tangled with North skipper Jy Simpkin late in the third term, giving up an easy goal in a behind-the-ball skirmish.
Ex-Roo Horne-Francis was the No.1 draft pick in 2021, but spent just one season with North before demanding a return to his native South Australia.
Port laid its victory platform with a slick 7.3 opening quarter, its highest scoring term of the year, then withstood a series of Roos bounce-backs.
North was just six points down late in the third term, and seven adrift seven minutes into the final quarter.
But the Power prevailed for a fourth win from seven games, with stalwart Darcy Byrne-Jones (three goals), Ollie Lord (two) and Mitch Georgiades (two) crucial.
Horne-Francis was ever-present and Butters (27 disposals, 13 tackles), half-back Rozee (27 and a goal) and forward Sam Powell-Pepper were all influential.
North's Paul Curtis was a standout with three goals from his 16 touches, and Harry Sheezel collected a match-high 30 disposals.
Veteran recruit Luke Parker (27 disposals, one goal) was again prominent, as was Luke Davies-Uniacke (25, one goal), but the Kangaroos paid a heavy price for their sluggish start.
Port led 7.3 to 2.4 at quarter-time before North turned the tide in an impressive second stanza, rewarded with five goals to two.
The Roos, sparked by Parker and the lively Curtis, were within 12 points when Nick Larkey took an eye-catching pack mark and ran into goal.
Port led 9.5 to 7.5 at half-time but lost defender Josh Sinn, who was substituted with concussion after being crunched in a tackle.
The Power went 24 points up in the third quarter, but the Kangas again rallied with three consecutive majors – the last from Davies-Uniacke after Horne-Francis' ill-discipline reducing the margin to six points.
A late strike from Port's Byrne-Jones gave the home side a 13-point buffer at three-quarter time, 12.8 to 10.7.
The Power skipped 19 points clear when Georgiades slotted his second early in the final term, but the Kangaroos again threatened.
The Roos scored two goals in two minutes to sneak within seven points, but couldn't get any closer.
Veteran marks milestone in style
It was just his seventh game for the Kangaroos, but Luke Parker brought up 300 AFL games on Saturday. The former Sydney star made his mark, too, finishing with 27 disposals, four tackles, three clearances and a goal as he celebrated his milestone game with a good performance even if the Roos fell short of victory.
Roo's heavy tackle hurts Port defender
Port defender Josh Sinn was substituted in the second quarter after being concussed in a tackle from Roos forward Paul Curtis. Curtis pinned Sinn's arms and drove him in the back and into the ground, with Sinn's head hitting the ground and leading to the end of his game.
Scuffles break out to end third quarter
It was an unusual finish to the third term as the Roos looked to challenge Port. Former Roo Jason Horne-Francis gave away a costly off-the-ball free kick when the Power had the ball in defence, leading to a Luke Davies-Uniacke goal from the goalsquare. Port would get an immediate response through Darcy Byrne-Jones, who took his chance after Luke McDonald gave away a costly 50m penalty just as North had closed to within a goal.
PORT ADELAIDE 7.3 9.5 12.8 14.13 (97)
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.4 7.5 10.7 13.10 (88)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Byrne-Jones 3, Richards 2, Lord 2, Georgiades 2, Rozee, Rioli, Powell-Pepper, Horne-Francis, Finlayson
North Melbourne: Curtis 3, Zurhaar 2, Xerri, Wardlaw, Powell, Parker, McKercher, Larkey, Davies-Uniacke, Darling
BEST
Port Adelaide: Butters, Rozee, Lord, Horne-Francis, Powell-Pepper, Drew
North Melbourne: Xerri, Sheezel, Curtis, Davies-Uniacke, Parker, Wardlaw
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Sinn (concussion)
North Melbourne: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Jeremy Finlayson (replaced Josh Sinn in the second quarter)
North Melbourne: Zane Duursma (replaced Darcy Tucker in the fourth quarter)
Crowd: 35,004 at Adelaide Oval
