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North Melbourne Young pistol Curtis Taylor was flattened in a brutal scoring contest as Port Adelaide started their season on a high after a slow start.
Taylor was helped off the ground by Kangaroos medics after cutting Dan Houston’s knee in the back of his head in the final quarter of the tournament. Power’s 17. 15. (117) to 9. 11. (65) win at Marvel Stadium.
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“He’s bad, Curtis Taylor,” Fox Footy commentator Dwayne Russell said. “He doesn’t know where he is right now.”
“That stick made him an ax, it was brutal booty,” added former Saints skipper Nick Riewoldt.
After leading the Kangaroos by two points in the first quarter, Ken Hinkley’s side took the win with an eight-goal monster in the second quarter, giving them a 40-point lead at halftime.
Veteran midfielder Travis Boak continued his late career revival with a performance of 27 assignments and two goals, while Ollie Wines also tallied 30 assignments.
It was also an electric start in Port Adelaide for former bomber Orazio Fantasia, who threw four goals to accompany 14 assignments.
“A good win,” Hinkley said after the game.
“First round, you are still not 100% sure what the opposition will bring.
“We are happy to have been able to travel and return home with the points.”
Hinkley also revealed that Power will most likely bring back star man Connor Rozee for his team’s second round against Essendon at the Adelaide Oval next Saturday.
North Melbourne will also be in action on Saturday, as they travel to the Gold Coast to face the Suns at 8:10 pm.
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