North Melbourne Ends Port Adelaide Hoodoo with Dominant 46-Point AFL Victory
North Melbourne's 2026 AFL season has kicked off in spectacular fashion, breaking a frustrating run of six consecutive losses against Port Adelaide. The Kangaroos delivered a resounding 46-point defeat to Josh Carr in his debut as Power senior coach, marking a significant turnaround at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
The final scoreline of 17.11 (113) to 9.13 (67) underscored North Melbourne's superiority, with the team not having beaten Port Adelaide since 2019. This victory was built on a foundation of stellar individual performances and cohesive team play.
Key Players Shine in Kangaroos' Triumph
Harry Sheezel was instrumental, gathering an impressive 31 possessions to control the midfield. Luke Davies-Uniacke's power around stoppages proved decisive, while Nick Larkey, in his first game as captain, booted four goals to lead by example. Their contributions were pivotal in setting the tone for the match.
Port Adelaide started strongly, with Darcy Byrne-Jones and Mitch Georgiades kicking the opening two goals. However, North Melbourne quickly wrestled back control. Larkey kicked his side's first goal, and Cameron Zurhaar added two more, giving the Roos an eight-point lead at quarter-time.
Mid-Game Dominance Seals the Deal
After Jack Whitlock pegged a goal back for Port Adelaide early in the second term, North Melbourne took full control. The Kangaroos tightened their defence and moved the ball sharply from the back half, creating a one-way traffic scenario.
A 55-metre bomb from Charlie Comben electrified the home crowd, with Colby McKercher and Zane Duursma following up with quick goals before halftime. This surge gave North Melbourne a 25-point lead at the main break, which they carried into the second half.
Jy Simpkin soccered through a goal in the opening minute of the third quarter, and Larkey added two more. Luke Parker and Tom Powell also got in on the action, extending the lead to 38 points by three-quarter time.
Late Rally Falls Short for Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide rallied early in the final term, reducing the margin to 25 points. However, Paul Curtis settled North Melbourne's nerves with a clever snap after weaving through traffic, and the Roos never looked threatened thereafter.
Jason Horne-Francis faced a chorus of boos from the North Melbourne faithful throughout the day, more than three years after his decision to leave the Kangaroos after just one season. This marked his first appearance against his old side in Melbourne since the 2022 trade.
For Port Adelaide, Zak Butters (23 possessions) and Connor Rozee (24) battled hard but lacked sufficient support, ultimately being overwhelmed by North Melbourne's dominant midfield.
Looking Ahead for North Melbourne
With this confidence-boosting win, North Melbourne will aim to extend their winning form in the coming weeks. They face matches against 2025 bottom-four sides West Coast and Essendon in the next fortnight, providing an opportunity to build momentum early in the season.
This victory not only breaks a long-standing losing streak but also signals a promising start for the Kangaroos under new leadership and refreshed strategies.
