Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee has suffered a leg injury after helping fuel a 63-point torching of lacklustre Essendon.
The Bombers plunged into early season crisis, surrendering eight-straight goals in Port’s 20.13 (133) to 10.10 (70) triumph on Sunday at Adelaide Oval.
Port’s new coach Josh Carr won for the first time as problems magnified for his counterpart Brad Scott.
At one stage, the inside 50m count was Port’s by 21 to two.
And midway through the second term, the Bombers were 50 points down and already out.
Essendon also lost backman Mason Redman to a left knee issue and second-gamer Dyson Sharp (ankle).
Power captain Rozee was instrumental in setting up victory with 21 disposals and four clearances before limping from the field in the third quarter.
Port’s brilliant skipper appeared to injure his left hamstring after straining to tackle, with some reports of nerve trouble in a buttock.
The concern came as Rozee and his vice-captain Zak Butters (36 disposals, seven clearances) were midfield forces while Aliir Aliir (19 marks) ruled in defence.
Jason Horne-Francis (26 touches) kicked three goals in Port’s game-busting burst of eight majors from midway through the opening term to halfway into the second.
Jack Lukosius also kicked three majors and Joe Berry, Joe Richards, recruit Corey Durdin and Mitch Georgiades had two each.
Their collective feats easily broke any resistance from Essendon, though Jhye Caldwell (27 possessions), Zach Merrett (25), Darcy Parish (24), Nate Caddy (four goals) and Isaac Kako (1.4) battled against the flow.
After losing first-up to Hawthorn by 62 points, the Bombers were again belted after recruit Brayden Fiorini kicked the opening goal.
From then, the Power logged eight consecutive majors as Butters and Rozee pulled the strings in the midfield.
Port, with Horne-Francis slotting three successive majors in their spree, were untroubled in creating a 32-point quarter-time lead, 6.5 to 1.3.
The Power stretched their advantage to 50 points in the second term, as the Bombers’ goalless span continued until a Sam Durham strike 22 minutes in.
Port held a commanding 49-point break at halftime, 10.7 to 2.6.
And the hosts rolled on with another decisive quarter in the third. Despite losing their captain, they scored five goals to three to increase their margin to 62 points ahead of a tame last quarter.