Port Adelaide has continued the salvage job on its season with a gritty 21-point win over St Kilda at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night.

Port opened up a three-goal lead in the first quarter and managed to hold that margin for most of the contest, eventually winning 12.10 (82) to 9.7 (61).

The desperate Power put their head over every contested ball and had a number of options in attack.

In contrast, the Saints' forward line was ineffective when Nick Riewoldt was blanketed by the opposition and took more than 40 minutes to register its first goal.

Kane Cornes was named the Peter Badcoe VC Medallist for his 33-possession effort while Steven Salopek and Troy Chaplin were other strong performers for the home side.

Lenny Hayes (31 disposals) was the Saints' best while Jason Gram and Leigh Montagna were other big possession winners.

It was a scrappy opening to the contest with Daniel Motlop registering the first goal at 19 minutes.

The scoreline boosted the Power's confidence and a combination of defensive pressure and play-on footy saw them open up an 18-point break at the first change.

Port extended that buffer to 32 points after registering two majors within five minutes of the start of the second term and they threatened to go further in front thanks to their desperate ground-level efforts.

But the Saints finally scored their first goal through a fleet-footed Riewoldt.

It was just the spark the Saints needed with their midfielders starting to get their hands on the footy.

Xavier Clarke kicked his side's third goal for the term and St Kilda was within 21 points, and back in the match, at the long break.

Momentum remained with the Saints in the early stages of the second half with a dangerous Riewoldt helping his side reduce the difference to just seven points.

But for the first time in three weeks the Power responded to the challenge - long set shots from Tredrea, Motlop and Brett Ebert steadied the ship.

The Saints attacked in red time but a ragged Power kept their 20-point advantage intact at three-quarter time.

Motlop scored the all-important first goal of the fourth quarter and the home side was desperate in the early stages.

The Saints continued to challenge but a Dominic Cassisi snap shot sealed the result.

PORT ADELAIDE: 3.2, 6.5, 10.7, 12.10 (82)
ST KILDA: 0.2, 3.4, 7.5, 9.7 (61)

GOALS: PORT: Motlop 3, Tredrea 2, Boak 2, S.Burgoyne, Lade, Pettigrew, Ebert, Cassisi
ST KILDA: Riewoldt 3, Koschitzke 2, X. Clarke, Armitage, Gram, Montagna
BEST: PORT: K.Cornes, Salopek, Chaplin, P.Burgoyne, Cassisi, Tredrea, Surjan, Thomson
ST KILDA: Hayes, Montagna, Gram, Harvey, Birss
INJURIES: PORT: C.Cornes (finger)
ST KILDA: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nathan Krakouer replaced in the selected side by Danyle Pearce.
UMPIRES: Donlon, Stevic, Schmitt
CROWD: 20,507 at AAMI STADIUM

Sportal AFL Player of the Year votes:
3. K.Cornes (Port)
2. S.Salopek (Port)
1. T.Chaplin (Port)