Port Adelaide coach Ken McGregor urges players to learn from mistakes in final two matches

PORT Adelaide must learn from wasted opportunities in Sunday's loss to Sturt if it is to win its final two games of the season, says coach Ken McGregor.

Back to the drawing board for Port

PORT Adelaide must learn from wasted opportunities in Sunday's loss to Sturt if it is to win its final two games of the season, says coach Ken McGregor.

One week after beating South Adelaide in a dogfight, the Magpies were unable to repeat the performance against Sturt at Alberton.

Port won the hit-outs and clearances and even had one more inside-50 than the Double Blues, but was unable to kick a winning score.

They trailed at every change and eventually lost by seven points to surrender sixth spot on the ladder.

When the Magpies did mount a charge during the game, they were unable to finish the job as demonstrated in the final quarter when they dominated possession but were unable to put it on the scoreboard.

"I thought we created some opportunities that we could have finished and we didn't, and that hurt our momentum and we never quite got that back," McGregor said.

"In terms of our grunt and desire I thought that was there for most of the day.

"I think we did pretty well in those terms but they were just a bit cleaner with the possession they did get and the space they had."

Port's best player was young utility Kory Beard who started in defence and played on Sturt spearhead Matthew Duldig before moving up forward.

Ben Newton continued his stellar form in the midfield, James Brain and Luke Slattery were solid in defence, and Henry Slattery played his best game for the club.

Port made a run at Sturt in the second quarter and hit the front, but three goals to Double Blues forward Tim McIntyre in the third term steadied the ship for the visitors who were able to protect their narrow lead for the rest of the game.

The Magpies finish their season against West Adelaide and Glenelg, but it is amid uncertainty over their future with the prospect of a Power reserves team taking their place in 2014 still being investigated by Port Adelaide officials.