Round 17 of the AFL season comes to a close at Adelaide Oval on Sunday afternoon, with a genuine tinge of danger hanging over the home side.

Port Adelaide arrive fresh off their best performance this season, dismantling their crosstown rival Crows by 26 points in Showdown LX to keep their finals hopes flickering.

Zak Butters was at his brilliant best in that win, taking home the Showdown Medal and the Power will be desperate to carry that momentum into this fixture against North Melbourne.

The Roos, on the other hand, arrive with a very different story to tell.

The Kangaroos have improved to eight wins and seven losses this season after grinding out a win over Essendon at Marvel Stadium last week, but a deeper look at that record shows the Roos have largely beaten sides ranked eleventh or lower.

One of the clubs they have already accounted for this year is Port Adelaide, who they thumped by forty-six points at Marvel Stadium back in Round 1, with Harry Sheezel racking up thirty-one disposals and Nick Larkey booting four majors.

A great deal has changed since then. Port has steadily improved and were it not for a string of narrow losses, they too would be firmly in the top-ten conversation.

At 15th on the ladder, it's now or never for Port Adelaide and North Melbourne themselves are likely to drop out of the top 10 with a loss here.

With both teams highly motivated, is it curtains for Port? Or will North Melbourne unravel as we’ve seen so many times before?

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

Port Adelaide Power vs North Melbourne Prediction and Betting Tips

Head-to-Head Prediction

We understand why Sportsbet have the Roos as such big outsiders here, but we are not entirely convinced.

Port's win in the Showdown was mightily impressive, but it also had the feel of a Josh Carr special that will be hard for the Power to replicate week to week.

North Melbourne go into this one as three-goal underdog, and yes, their record at Adelaide Oval has been genuinely poor, and yes, they were embarrassed here the last time they visited.

But we think the time is now for the Roos to end that hoodoo and grab a scalp on the road.

The blueprint is simple enough on paper: nullify Zak Butters and slow down his former teammate Jason Horne-Francis, and North Melbourne should have enough about them to get the job done.

Add in the returning Tristan Xerri to bolster the ruck stocks, and the visitors look better placed than the market suggests.

Head-to-head prediction: North Melbourne Kangaroos by 8 points.

First Goal Scorer Prediction

With so much of the pre-match chatter centred on the midfield battle, we like the idea of a forward flying under the radar and cashing in early.

Mitch Georgiades has been building nicely into career-best form for Port and a hot start in front of the home fans is just what the Doctor ordered for the Power.  

There is not an awful lot jumping out from the Kangaroos' forward line either, with skipper Nick Larkey having gone quiet in front of goal over the past month few months.

That lack of a genuine spearhead threat from the visitors only strengthens the case for Georgiades to be the one celebrating first.

Betting tip: Mitch Georgiades.

Most Disposals Prediction

This one genuinely could go a few different ways, with Zak Butters, Jason Horne-Francis and Caleb Daniel all capable of racking up big numbers on their day.

But when it comes to pure consistency, we keep coming back to Harry Sheezel.

The young Kangaroo has been regularly popping up with thirty-plus touches regardless of the opposition or the scoreline.

Given the amount of the ball that is likely to flow through the middle of what we expect to be a tight contest, we don’t need to overthink it.

Betting tip: Harry Sheezel.

Odds are subject to change.*

Port Adelaide Power vs North Melbourne Predicted Teams

Port Adelaide Power Predicted Team List

FB: Miles Bergman, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Josh Lai

HB: Darcy Byrne-Jones, Aliir Aliir, Lachie Jones

C: Jack Lukosius, Jason Horne-Francis, Jase Burgoyne

HF: Xavier Bamert, Mitch Georgiades, Joe Berry

FF: Corey Durdin, Jack Whitlock, Joe Richards

FOLL: Jordon Sweet, Zak Butters, Willem Drew

I/C: Ollie Wines, Jackson Mead, Dante Visentini, Jacob Wehr

North Melbourne Predicted Team List

FB: Luke Parker, Charlie Comben, Aidan Corr

HB: Colby McKercher, Caleb Daniel, Josh Goater

C: Dylan Stephens, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Jy Simpkin

HF: Jacob Konstanty, Cooper Trembath, Finn O'Sullivan

FF: Jack Darling, Nick Larkey, Cameron Zurhaar

FOLL: Tristan Xerri, George Wardlaw, Harry Sheezel

I/C: Luke McDonald, Griffin Logue, Zac Banch, Zane Duursma

Port Adelaide Power vs North Melbourne Match Details

Date: Sunday, July 5, 2026.

First Bounce: 4:40pm AEST

Location: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

How to Watch: Fox Footy, Kayo Sports