PORT Adelaide has handed new coach Ken Hinkley a win at his first game in charge, thrashing St Kilda by 50 points in their round one NAB Cup clash at AAMI Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Showing the clean skills and precise ball movement so often missing in recent seasons, the Power jumped out of the blocks with five of the first six goals, establishing a 24-point half-time lead.

Saints too hot for Crows in NAB Cup

They went on with the job after the break, pouring on a further five goals as the Saints, fatigued after consecutive games in the stifling heat, struggled to keep up with the fresh legs of their opponents.

For Hinkley, even more pleasing than the result will have been the exciting performances of several of his young players.

Northern Territory recruit Jake Neade led the way, showing bursts of speed, poise in close and a frenetic work-rate.

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Despite weighing in at only 64kg, the diminutive midfielder was not afraid to put his body on the line, at one stage going back with the flight of the ball to mark inside forward 50.

Second-year midfielder Chad Wingard, high draft pick Oliver Wines and mature-age recruit Kane Mitchell were also among the better Power players, while Jay Schulz was a strong presence up forward with two goals.

Smith injury sours Crows win

St Kilda had few winners in the scorching hot conditions, although ruck recruit Tom Hickey battled hard and looks poised to break into  Scott Watters' first choice line-up.

WAFL recruit Tom Lee worked his way into the action after a quiet first game, and veteran onballer Leigh Montagna was also busy.

Port Adelaide was set to play the Crows in the final match of the afternoon.

AFL Fantasy Snapshot
Old favourites Kane Cornes and Montagna were the top scorers for their respective teams, the Power midfielder scoring 48 points and his St Kilda counterpart 42. But for AFL Fantasy coaches, the attention will have been on Port Adelaide's impressive crop of bargain-priced players. Neade scored 32 points, Wines 30, defender Jasper Pittard 22, Lewis Stevenson 20, Sam Colquhoun 19 and Mitchell 16. Keep a close eye on them all as round one approaches.



PORT ADELAIDE      0.5.2   1.9.2    (65)                  
ST KILDA                  0.1.2   0.2.3    (15)   
       

SUPERGOALS
Port Adelaide:
Broadbent
St Kilda: Nil

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Schulz 2, Stewart 2, Neade, Wines, Wingard, Broadbent, Brad Ebert
St Kilda: Lee, Koschitzke

BEST
Port Adelaide: Wingard, Neade, Cornes, Wines, Brad Ebert, Mitchell, Schulz
St Kilda: Montagna, Hickey, Steven, Lee, Koschitzke

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
St Kilda: Nil
 
Reports: Nil