Australian Football

Match Report

A stunning first half from Port Adelaide has seen the Power thrash Hawthorn by 51 points at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday. Such was Port's dominance in that first half, the Hawks scored only three behinds prior to the long break, setting an unwanted club record of lowest-ever half-time score. Trailing at the half by 59 points, Hawthorn actually outscored the home side in the third and final quarters but the damage had long been done, and Port cruised to victory. 

The tone of the match was set from the very beginning, with Hawthorn struggling to mount any penetrating forays into the forward line, and the Power scoring regularly. Port had 2.2 on the board by the eight-minute mark, both goals going to the in-form Charlie Dixon, and the home side continued to hit the scoreboard at regular intervals for the rest of the quarter, with Jarman Impey Sam Gray, Brendon Ah Chee and Sam Powell-Pepper all adding majors. The Power also missed a couple of gettable shots and the quarter-time margin of 41 points - 6.5 to 0.0 - could have been even greater.

Port continued to dominate when play resumed but again squandered some chances, with Sam Gray and Young both missing before Robbie Gray kicked truly to take the score to an incredible 49-0. Hawthorn finally hit the scoreboard, albeit only with a point, at the 10-minute mark when Luke Breust marked and kicked a minor score. The Hawks added two further behinds for the term but Port continued to add goals, though at a slightly slower rate, with majors to Matthew Broadbent and Jarman Impey taking the half-time margin out to 59 points, with Hawthorn stranded on 0.3, its lowest-ever half-time score.

Jarman Impey and Patrick Ryder took the margin beyond 10 goals with behinds in the first two minutes of the third term but at the three-minute mark, the Hawks finally scored their first major of rage match when Jasper Pittard gave away a free kick to James Sicily, who found the target. The visitors followed up with another goal through Paul Puopolo, and from there were more than competitive. Each side added another goal - and several behinds - for the quarter and the last change saw the margin reduced slightly to 53 points.

Travis Boak ensured there would be no thoughts of a miracle comeback when he goaled after a mark within the first minute of the final term. From there the match had a 'playing out time' feel to it, with Hawthorn to its credit battling on to kick four goals to two in the final 25 minutes, bringing the final margin down to 51. It was relatively small consolation, but it did at least demonstrate that the Hawks were prepared to fight the game out to the end.

Brad Ebert played a huge part in Port's win, laying 12 tackles and collecting 34 touches, while Ryan Burton - playing only his 14th game - was very good for the Hawks, taking 11 marks and having 25 possessions.

The win lifted Port back up to fifth and well within touch of the top four sides, who have all played an extra game. The Power will take on Essendon at Docklands next Saturday night. The Hawks are in 15th place and two games out of the eight, desperately needing a win against Gold Coast at the MCG next Saturday to keep their very slim finals hopes alive. The Suns thrashed Hawthorn by 86 points in round three.

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Dixon 4; Impey 2; S.Gray, Ah Chee, Powell-Pepper, R.Gray, Broadbent, Boak, Ryder
Hawthorn: Sicily, Roughead, Breust 2; Puopolo

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Port Adelaide: Ebert, Dixon, Wines, Ah Chee, Hartlett, Hombsch, Polec
Hawthorn: Burton, Mitchell, Hodge

BEST - THE AGE
Port Adelaide: Ebert, Dixon, Wines, Broadbent, S. Gray, Toumpas
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Henderson, Hodge, Shiels, Roughead, Burton

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Adelaide: Nil

UMPIRES: Dagleigh, Chamberlain, Findlay, Fleer

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Bruce McAvaney, Hamish McLachlan, Wayne Carey, Mark Soderstrom