A BESIEGED Port Adelaide has clung to victory at the Adelaide Oval by eight points after withstanding the a second half onslaught from the full-strength defending premiers in a near-reverse of last year's preliminary final.
In that game, it was the Power mounting a ferocious comeback to fall short, this time it was Hawthorn's turn.
Some might argue poetic justice, but things looked a little concerning for the 50,000-strong crowd as the Hawks clawed its way back into the contest with a relentless attack fed from centre stoppages after half time.
The Hawks had 36 more inside-50 entries for the game than Port Adelaide - a record differential for a losing team - and 60 more touches to highlight their control of the game after the main break.
The slender final margin was worlds away from what looked poised to be a Port procession early, after the home side kicked seven unanswered goals from the opening bounce to post a 42-point advantage at quarter time.
In a classic battle between two heavyweight boxers, Port Adelaide's opening half was richly satisfying, with a first quarter reminiscent of its opening term performance against Richmond in last year's elimination final.
Using a combination of ambitious offence and resilient defence to open its early advantage, Port looked sharp, uncompromising and set to take a comfortable win.
Its advantage was 50 points by half time, having withstood Hawthorn's move of numbers around the ball.
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But the story quickly transitioned into how well the home side could withstand Hawthorn's return fire in the second half, and how effective the visitors' response would be.
While Port won the second term with second goals to Paddy Ryder and Jared Polec breaking an early stalemate, Hawthorn came out swinging after half time and dismantled the home side at stoppages to kick eight out of the game's final nine goals and comfortably win the second half.
The Hawks worked back into the game early in the third quarter when it won a fast clearance and set up an opening Rioli goal.
It was prophetic of their final half, and while Port managed three goals to steady its third quarter ship, the Hawks had all the supply up forward.
Concerningly, the Power was held goalless in the final term, with Hawthorn's resort to long kicks heaping pressure on the Power's backline.
When Luke Breust cut the margin to 13 points in time-on, the Power needed an answer and that came through a crucial clearance win to Chad Wingard. It reaped no score through Aaron Young, but it was a play that highlighted the Power's final quarter - unattractive, plenty of rebound, but gritty and resilient.
That Port Adelaide can run rampant when things are going its way, and tough it out defensively when under siege are valuable aces to have.
Travis Boak won the Peter Badcoe VC Medal for the second consecutive year with a class performance all night - winning the hard ball in a tough battle and getting involved in many of the Power's forward surges.
He lifted to another level late in the game to sweep the Power out of trouble.
Hamish Hartlett and Jasper Pittard were again solid, and Hartlett is a monty for a goal of the year nomination following a trademark bomb at a near 90-degree angle from the corner of the 50-metre line and boundary.
With an even spread of contributors, the Power sits 10th on the ladder based on percentage, but tied on points with the Hawks, Richmodn, Essendon, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.
It sets up a tantalising Showdown with the Crows at the Oval next Sunday, with former Power midfield manager Phil Walsh a chance to bring an unbeaten Adelaide to meet Ken Hinkley's fighting 2-3 Port.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 8.2 12.4 15.8 15.9 (99)
HAWTHORN 1.2 3.7 8.9 13.13 (91)
PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU’S BEST
Boak, Hartlett, Carlile, Schulz, Pittard, Westhoff
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GOALS
Schulz 5, Ryder, Polec, Westhoff 2, Wingard, Hartlett, Young, Mitchell
PETER BADCOE MEDAL
Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
SUBSTITUTE
Brendon Ah Chee replaced Jared Polec in the fourth quarter
CROWD
50,675 at the Adelaide Oval
