Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley hailed one of the proudest days of his tenure and celebrated some payback for milestone-setting captain Travis BoaK, in their drought breaking 28-point AFL round one upset win over Sydney.
The stunning 17.8 (110) to 12.10 (82) victory at the SCG on Saturday was Port's first in eight matches and 11 years at the SCG, and their first anywhere over the Swans in their past six contests, going back to 2013.
"It's certainly one of the proudest days I've had I reckon since I've been here," Hinkley said.
Port kicked five goals to two in the third quarter to break open a previously close game and took a 22-point lead into the last change.
Sydney were unable to get the deficit below 13 and were also outscored in the final quarter.
The visitors' accurate goalkicking and unrelenting tenacity, which earned them a 163-139 advantage in contested possessions, were big factors in their win.
Port's kicking into their forward line improved significantly after halftime and Sydney conceded more than 16 goals for the first time since the 2015 season, while booting just four second half majors of their own.
Ollie Wines, (33 touches) Brad Ebert (25 and 11 tackles) and Boak, (26 possessions), who was making his 200th appearance, all won plenty of ball for Port.
"It's pretty special for a bloke like Travis, who over the journey he's made some courageous decisions to be part of this footy club and I think he got a fair bit of payback today," Hinkley said.
He thought some of the things Port focused on over the summer were starting to come through.
"We had four months to work on stuff and we've been able to put some things in place that are non-negotiable for us and I'm sure from a Port Adelaide point of view that starts with contest and effort," Hinkley said.
Sydney coach John Longmire acknowledged his side came off second best in the contest area they pride themselves in.
"We showed it in spurts but you cant afford to play AFL football in spurts," Longmire said.
"We just lost too many 50-5O contests, whether it's in the air or on the ground."
Port ruckman Patty Ryder was strong in his first competition game back from his anti-doping ban.
Chad Wingard and Aaron Young both kicked thee goals and debutant Sam Powell-Pepper nailed a couple of long distance majors for the travelling side.
New captain Josh Kennedy starred for Sydney gathering a team-high 28 touches and plenty of clearances and forward Lance Franklin also worked hard, kicking 4.2.
Swans' midfielder Dan Robinson suffered an injury to the same shoulder which he hurt last season, with scans to determine the severity of the latest issue.
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