Port Adelaide has taken the wind out of St Kilda’s sails, emerging victorious by 13 points in a scrappy contest at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Momentum ebbed and flowed between the two teams, with inaccuracy riddling the 10.14(74) to 8.13(61) contest.

The Saints withstood the Power’s early pressure, but failed to make them pay, only kicking two goals in the first quarter despite dominating possession.

Port turned up the heat in the second term, booting three goals – including two courtesy of Karl Amon – to enter the main break with a seven-point lead.

Inaccuracy dogged both sides in the third quarter, before Boyd Woodcock broke the stalemate and pushed Port’s lead out to eleven points.

It didn’t take the Saints long to respond, with a Rowan Marshall kick clearing the marking pack and bouncing through for a goal.

Two answering goals from the Power looked to have put the game on ice, but two late goals brought the margin back to just eight points at the final break.  

The Saints looked primed to launch a comeback in the final term, with scores level halfway through the quarter.

But the Power proved too strong, booting three late goals to put the game out of the Saints’ reach.

The Saints will be sweating on the prognosis of wingman Daniel McKenzie, who was crunched in a tackle and left the field on a stretcher.

Captain Jack Steele was reliably prolific for the Saints, racking up 37 touches and a goal, while Brad Crouch had 36 disposals and 11 clearances.

SAINTS MATCH CENTRE: View all news, stats and videos from Round 18

Ollie Wines continued his excellent season for the Power, amassing 36 touches, 11 clearances and one goal, while Mitch Georgiades booted four goals.

ST KILDA                2.4    3.5.   6.9     8.13 (61)
PORT ADELAIDE    1.0    4.6.   7.11   10.14 (74)

GOALS
St Kilda: Marshall 2, Steele, Butler, Ryder, Webster, King, Hill  
Port Adelaide: Georgiades 4, Amon 2, Woodcock, Wines, Mayes, Dixon      

BEST
St Kilda: Steele, Crouch, Marshall, Hill, Dunstan
Port Adelaide: Wines, Amon, Georgiades, McKenzie, Lycett 

INJURIES
St Kilda: McKenzie (head knock)
Port Adelaide: Woodcock (corked thigh)

SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Jack Bytel (replaced McKenzie)
Port Adelaide: Jed McEntee (replaced Woodcock)