North Melbourne young gun Curtis Taylor has been flattened in a brutal marking contest as Port Adelaide began its season in fine fashion after a slow start.
Taylor was helped off the ground by the Kangaroos' doctors after copping a knee from Dan Houston to the back of his head in the final quarter in the Power's 17. 15. (117) to 9. 11. (65) win at Marvel Stadium.
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"He's in a bad way, Curtis Taylor," Fox Footy commentator Dwayne Russell said. "He doesn't know where he is right now."
"That pole-axed him, it was a brutal spoil," ex-Saints skipper Nick Riewoldt added.
After trailing the Kangaroos by two points in the opening quarter, Ken Hinkley's side set up the win with a monster eight-goal second quarter which gave them a 40-point half-time lead.
Veteran midfielder Travis Boak continued his late-career renaissance with a 27-disposal, two-goal performance, while Ollie Wines also collected 30 disposals.
It was also an electric Port Adelaide debut for former Bomber Orazio Fantasia, who booted four goals to go along with 14 disposals.
"A good win," Hinkley said after the match.
"Round One you're always not 100 per cent sure what the opposition will bring.
"We're pleasd we were able to travel and go home with the points."
Hinkley also revealed that the Power would most likely get star man Connor Rozee back for his side's Round Two clash against Essendon at the Adelaide Oval next Saturday.
North Melbourne will also be in action on Saturday, when they travel to the Gold Coast to take on the Suns at 8:10 pm.
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