Port Adelaide staged a second-half comeback to defeat North Melbourne.
TO Tom Wyman at Adelaide Oval
Mitch Georgiades celebrates scoring against North Melbourne in Round 17, 2026. Photo: AFL Photos
It wasn’t pretty, but Port Adelaide did enough to secure an important 21-point win over North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval.
In a game that lacked fluidity, thanks in part to a high number of penalties (37-33 to Port Adelaide), Josh Carr’s men cruised to victory 10.13 (73) to 7.10 (52).
POWER vs. KANGAROO Full match coverage and statistics
With the score level at three quarters, Power scored the only three goals of the final season to extend North Melbourne’s miserable record at Adelaide Oval.
The first period in particular stood in stark contrast to the intensity of Port Adelaide’s convincing victory in last weekend’s Showdown decider, as both sides found goal scoring a real chore.
The game really got going in the second period when Power started to get on the scoreboard with key goals from Mitch Georgiades and Jack Whitlock.
Lacking statistics in his first season, Whitlock responded well, scoring two goals in a row to give the home team the lead on the scoreboard.
Despite their first three-game winning streak since 2019, North Melbourne lacked the energy one would expect from a team looking to end the Adelaide Oval scandal.
And after Georgiades scored his third early in the second term, the visitors demanded an answer.
They soon discovered it: two consecutive goals from Jack Darling and Harry Schiesel began a run of five major tournaments.
Among the best players on the pitch from start to finish, Luke Davies-Uniak scored a stunning goal with a classy shrug.
McKercher was next to get involved, scoring once and Darling adding a second as North’s strike finally began to score points, but it proved to be their last goal of the competition.
Standout players were the usual suspects Zac Butters (26 disposals and seven disposals) and Jason Horne-Francis (24 disposals and nine clearances), as well as defender Darcy Byrne-Jones (24 disposals and seven interceptions).
Schiesel (40 assists) had the ball, but Davis-Uniak (31 assists and seven assists) did most of the damage for North.
Both sides will now turn their attention to Marvel Stadium, with North Melbourne taking on Collingwood and Port Adelaide taking on St Kilda.
PORT ADELAIDE 1.3 2.5 7.9 10.13 (73)
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.3 5.6 7.9 7.10 (52)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Whitlock 3, Georgiades 3, Sweet, Mead, Horne-Francis, Durdin
North Melbourne: Darling 2, Simpkin, Shizel, McKercher, Larkey, Davis-Uniak
BEST
Port Adelaide: Horne-Francis, Butters, Byrne-Jones, Georgiades, Burgoyne, Sweet, Lai
North Melbourne: Davis-Uniak, Parker, Schiesel, Comben, McKercher, Harvey
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: zero
North Melbourne: Wardlow (Hamstring)
LATE CHANGES
Port Adelaide: zero
North Melbourne: zero
Crowd: 33 105 at Adelaide Oval