North Melbourne has fallen to a 52-point defeat at the hands of Port Adelaide on Sunday afternoon.

The Roos got off to a bright start, with the likes of Jaidyn Stephenson, Tom Powell and Luke Davies-Uniacke lively early, but an eight-goal second term from the Power proved the difference. 

North continued to fight hard during the second half, but ultimately the margin was too great, with Port's class shining through.

There were promising signs from many of the Roos' youngsters, with Powell (19 disposals, 1 goal), Davies-Uniacke (20 disposals) and Bailey Scott (17 disposals, 2 goals) among North's best. 

Off-season recruit Stephenson was the standout though, finishing the game with a career-high 33 touches, 7 tackles, 5 marks, 5 clearances and 5 inside 50s, in an impressive display. 

Jack Ziebell made a good start to his time in defence, with 25 possessions, while Lachie Young (14 touches) and Connor Menadue (16) also showed promising signs in their North debuts.

North takes on the Gold Coast Suns next Saturday night at Metricon Stadium. 

All the key individual and team stats

NORTH MELBOURNE    2.4       3.6      5.8     9.11 (65)
PORT ADELAIDE          2.2       10.4     14.8   17.15 (117)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Scott 2, Thomas 2, Goldstein, Davies-Uniacke, Powell, Walker, Mahony
Port Adelaide: Fantasia 4, Boak 2, Dixon 2, Butters 2, Marshall 2, Amon, Bonner, Lycett, Motlop, Duursma

BEST
North Melbourne: Stephenson, Simpkin, Davies-Uniacke, Thomas, Young, McKay
Port Adelaide: Boak, Fantasia, Wines, Gray, Drew, Aliir

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Luke McDonald (quad) replaced by Connor Menadue, Corr (toe), Taylor (head)
Port Adelaide: Bonner (hamstring)

REPORTS
North Melbourne: Turner (reported for rough conduct on Duursma)
Port Adelaide: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Lazzaro (replaced Corr)
Port Adelaide: Rockliff (replaced Bonner)

Crowd: TBC at Marvel Stadium