Port Adelaide overcame an ankle injury to Zak Butters to produce an otherwise polished tune-up for round one with a 39-point win against Fremantle at Alberton.

Fremantle champion Nat Fyfe played the entire match in the midfield in his final competitive hitout before Fremantle hosts Brisbane in round one, finishing with 26 disposals and five clearances.   

The midfield was one area of strength for Freo, with Hayden Young the team's standout player with 26 touches and two outstanding goals as he continued his shift from half-back, while Caleb Serong (29 and seven clearances) was prominent. 

Port overwhelmed Fremantle with its pressure throughout and attacked the corridor, making their biggest move in a clinical third quarter that saw them play the game in their half and pile on 4.6 to 0.0.

Both teams managed players later in the match, with Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy benched after half-time and Port Adelaide backman Esava Ratugolea sitting out the final quarter. 

Fremantle won the clearance battle 35-29 but were unable to take advantage in a forward line that was missing injured trio Luke Jackson (concussion), Jye Amiss (corked quad) and Michael Frederick (hamstring), taking just five marks inside 50 to the Power's 18. 

"They were clearly tougher than us," Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said after the match.

"It's a good wake-up call. Our contested ball work is something we've been really focused on over the pre-season and that let us down. Then clearly they got on the outside of us way too much. It was a wake-up call and we'll take a lot from that."

New faces
Esava Ratugolea was the most impactful of the Power's four recruits, using his size and aerial strength expertly to lock down his man and intercept, particularly through the first half. With Brandon Zerk-Thatcher alongside him, the back six had a stable look about it. Ivan Soldo and Jordon Sweet shared ruck duties and it is a strong combination that Hinkley hasn't ruled out taking into round one. For Freo, pre-season recruit Pat Voss kicked a nice set shot goal from 50m on an angle but otherwise lacked opportunities. Key defender Oscar McDonald had the job on Todd Marshall and kept him to one goal, while draftee Cooper Simpson provided a rare highlight with a running goal from 50m.

Round one chance
The big decisions for Port Adelaide rest in the ruck and on the wings. Soldo shapes as the most likely big man to take on West Coast in round one, but Sweet is a challenger. Midfielder Jackson Mead (21 disposals and eight marks) is firming as a chance, while Jase Burgoyne (20 and four inside 50s) remains in the picture for a wing role. Fremantle wingman Jeremy Sharp (10 disposals and a goal) was quiet but should improve after his first match with the club. Simpson looks like he should be right on the edge of selection.

Medical room
Butters was the only notable injury out of the match, with Port otherwise in good health after Marshall and Drew's returns. Sam Powell-Pepper remains the Power's major concern after the forward was handed a four-match ban. Fremantle were without Luke Jackson(concussion), Jye Amiss (corked leg), Michael Frederick (hamstring) and Brennan Cox (leg) but hope to have all available for round one. Tom Emmett could also come into the team after missing with illness.

PORT ADELAIDE      2.3    7.5    11.11    13.14 (92)
FREMANTLE             2.2    5.3    5.3       8.5 (53)

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Rioli 3, Dixon 2, Boak, Byrne-Jones, Drew, Marshall, McEntee, Rozee, Soldo, Wines
Fremantle: Young 2, Walters 2, Sharp, Simpson, Switkowski, Voss

BEST
Port Adelaide: Rozee, Wines, Rioli, Houston, Horne-Francis, Burton
Fremantle: Young, Serong, Pearce, Fyfe, Brayshaw, Ryan

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Butters (ankle)
Fremantle: Nil

Crowd: 4,539 at Alberton Oval