Port Adelaide star Willie Rioli lit up the SCG on Sunday to give his side an important win away from home.

Rioli kicked three goals, took seven marks and racked up 14 touches to help Port to an eight-point win over the Swans.

Power surged away from last year's grand finalist early then withstood a late Sydney rally to claim the win.

Rioli's third goal proved to be crucial to wrestling momentum back when the Swans threatened to overrun Port.

When Sam Powell-Pepper goaled in the opening 30 seconds of the fourth term it stretched Port's lead to 34 points. Sydney then took charge, scoring three goals in less than eight minutes to get within three straight kicks of the Power.

Rioli responded with a goal 15 minutes into the last term, sapping the wind out of Sydney's sails and leading to a dour struggle before Mitch Georgiades found the big sticks to extend Port's lead to 26, and beyond the Swans' reach.

Earlier in the week the Tiwi Islander man received racist abuse online after writing on social media about the roots of his antipathy towards Hawthorn.

Rioli had sealed Port's win over the Hawks earlier.

His father Willie Senior spent time on Hawthorn's list without playing a senior match, and his cousin Cyril Rioli was among a number of Indigenous former Hawks to raise allegations of racism experienced at the club. Last June, former Hawthorn full forward Jason Dunstall had made disparaging remarks about Willie Senior's build and fitness during a Hall of Fame event.

Willie Junior took a break from club duties during the week, before returning to training and being named in the side to face Sydney.

Jason Horne-Francis also impressed for Port on Sunday with 20 touches, nine marks and five tackles, and Powell-Pepper was a strong contributor with two goals and 15 touches. Jase Burgoyne gave a good account of himself, racking up 15 touches of his own for the Power.