Round 23 of the AFL Season closes out Saturday night at Adelaide Oval as Port Adelaide host the red-hot Melbourne Demons.

Unfortunately, Port Adelaide enter this one with their season in tatters, the first year of the Josh Carr era an abject failure; sitting on just six wins from 21 starts.

There could be some hope salvaged for Port in the last two matches, but injuries haven’t been kind to them either and they face the Dees without a host of regular starters; Zak Butters, Logan Evans, Ollie Lord, Jack Lukosius, Esava Ratugolea and Connor Rozee among them.

Melbourne arrives off a season-defining scalp. The Dees ran down the ladder-leading Dockers 113-109 at the MCG in a match-of-the-year contender, kicking five goals to three in the final term to get it done.

Kozzy Pickett was the difference with 27 disposals, 13 score involvements and two goals.

The result confirmed the Dees as more than a surprise packet. They're now level on points with the fourth-placed Lions, albeit with a significant percentage gap to close.

All signs point to the Dees running away with this one, but how will Port respond with their coaches future potentially on the line?

For the latest team news, analysis, and expert insights, check out our Port Adelaide Power vs Melbourne Demons Round 23 prediction and preview below.

Port Adelaide Power vs Melbourne Demons Prediction and Betting Tips

Head-to-Head Prediction

Port Adelaide's wheels are finally falling off, and that's despite being a gritty defensive group for most of the season.

Sydney dropped 23 goals on them after quarter time in a 97-point hammering. Butters was sidelined, Georgiades never made the trip and Horne-Francis went down late. A hammer blow, even if the last of those has turned out better than it first looked.

The Dees, meanwhile, won one of the games of the season with a comeback victory over the ladder-leading Dockers. That 113-109 result amplified Melbourne as something well beyond a surprise packet.

Given their record at the MCG, maybe they're this season's genuine joker in the pack.

The caveat is Adelaide Oval. The Dees were rolled there during Gather Round by Essendon by 45 points, no less, and again by the Crows in Round 15. They've lost both trips to the venue this season.

But with top six seedings at stake and a Port side that has now lost five straight, we'd expect a far more professional performance here.

Head-to-head prediction: Melbourne Demons by 20 points.

First Goal Scorer Prediction

Harrison Petty is the play here at long odds.

The 197cm utility has spent 2026 across half-back but pushes forward whenever Melbourne swings into attack and he's been finding plenty of points when he does.

He's done it before at scale, Petty kicked a career-high 20 goals as a makeshift forward in 2025, so the skill is there to meet the opportunity when it arises.

Port's defence has to account for van Rooyen, Fritsch and Jefferson before it worries about a defender drifting forward.

Great odds for Petty to open the scoring.

Betting tip: Harrison Petty.

Most Disposals Prediction

Kysaiah Pickett is ready to tear it up after being best on ground in the win over Fremantle.

The Port defence is unlikely to have answers for the most exciting player to watch in the competition, particularly with confidence at rock bottom after conceding 167 points.

Horne-Francis would be the obvious counter-play as the Power's chief distributor, but we're expecting Koltyn Tholstrup's tag to make him less effective than usual.

Betting tip: Kysaiah Pickett.

AFL Same Game Multi Tips

Betting tip: Harrison Petty anytime goal scorer, Tom Sparrow 26+ disposals, Melbourne Demons to win by 1-39 points, Jacob van Rooyen 3+ goals.

*Odds are subject to change.

Port Adelaide Power vs Melbourne Demons Predicted Teams

Port Adelaide Power Predicted Team List

FB: Miles Bergman, Harrison Ramm, Josh Lai

HB: Balyn O'Brien, Aliir Aliir, Jase Burgoyne

C: Dante Visentini, Jason Horne-Francis, Christian Moraes

HF: Joe Berry, Todd Marshall, Mitch Zadow

FF: Tom Anastasopoulos, Mitch Georgiades, Corey Durdin

FOLL: Jordon Sweet, Ollie Wines, Willem Drew

I/C: Jackson Mead, Jack Whitlock, Will Lorenz, Alex Van Wyk, Jacob Wehr

Melbourne Demons Predicted Team List

FB: Jake Bowey, Jake Lever, Daniel Turner

HB: Harrison Petty, Tom McDonald, Trent Rivers

C: Harry Sharp, Tom Sparrow, Harvey Langford

HF: Kysaiah Pickett, Bayley Fritsch, Ed Langdon

FF: Koltyn Tholstrup, Jacob van Rooyen, Kade Chandler

FOLL: Max Gawn, Jack Steele, Caleb Windsor

I/C: Changkuoth Jiath, Joel Fitzgerald, Christian Salem, Matthew Jefferson, Bailey Laurie

Port Adelaide Power vs Melbourne Demons Match Details

Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026

First Bounce: 8:10pm AEST (7:40pm ACST)

Location: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

How to Watch: Fox Footy/Kayo Sports