FIRST QUARTER
Port Adelaide started the game with a bang, scoring within two minutes of the first bounce. Some classy run and carry from Aaron Young who dropped one into a waiting Schulz had the veteran slot his first goal back from injury.
The Power’s young backline was under some serious pressure early on – the Hawks came out firing with goals to Rioli and Gunston.
Missing targets and lacking composure, Hawthorn controlled the game for several minutes – until a brilliant exit handball from Schulz to Wingard who hit the scoreboard without a shoe had the crowd roaring.
Until a delayed score review deemed it touched…
Oh dear - Wingard snaps a goal with one shoe on, but there's a review... And it's called touched... #AFLPowerHawks
— FIVEaa (@1395FIVEaa) July 7, 2016
But the Power responded just minutes later through Wingard – this time, for real.
Krak to Schulz and Wingard with the received handball. There's no doubt about that one!#AFLPowerHawks
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) July 7, 2016
Brad Ebert copped a heavy knock to the head on the turf after coming down from a soaring mark – he came straight off on the blood rule and didn’t return to the field.
EBERT UPDATE
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) July 7, 2016
Ebo won't return tonight. He's been taken to hospital as a precaution after this: https://t.co/zEzhXuX9wY #AFLPowerHawks
Things began to get fiery towards the end of the quarter, with Rioli giving away a 50m penalty to Ollie Wines, who bagged his first – but Rioli made up for it, slotting one for the Hawks with 30 seconds to go.
The Power lead by three points at the first change.
A tight first quarter at Adelaide Oval #AFLPowerHawks pic.twitter.com/qFLyaySUEQ
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) July 7, 2016
SECOND QUARTER
An early goal to Wingard had the Power nine points ahead early in the second term, but two unanswered goals to Hawks Ceglar and Breust had Port Adelaide chasing the momentum of a firing Hawthorn.
Hamish Hartlett came off the field after being put on the ground by Gunston - but returned soon after concussion testing.
Hamish Hartlett #AFLPowerHawks pic.twitter.com/cAxbnJ0sD9
— Walter Tedde (@WalterTedde) July 7, 2016
Hamish is off the field. That's #7 and #8 off right now. #AFLPowerHawks
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) July 7, 2016
Another contentious goal review saw a Rioli dribble kick touch the pole by a whisker; a minor by the umpire’s call.
@AFL needs a 'snicko' style microphone inside the goalposts, easy to see if the balls knicked the post. #AFLPowerHawks
— Blake Gardiner (@blakegards) July 7, 2016
Neither side managed to hit the scoreboard for a good eight minutes, locked in a scrappy arm wrestle and neither able to capitalise.
Scrappy footy the past 5 minutes - free-kicks & turnovers from both sides, neither can get any momentum #AFLPowerHawks
— FIVEaa (@1395FIVEaa) July 7, 2016
A lucky bounce inside 50 and quick hands from Robbie Gray – who snapped one over his left shoulder - broke the scoring drought and had the sides 33 points apiece at the 21 minute mark.
Paul Puopolo took a screamer 15m out, bagging a crucial one for the Hawks just before the siren, edging the visitors ahead in a low scoring affair.
A tough, fiery half of football left Port Adelaide trailing by six points at half time.
THIRD QUARTER
Kicking accuracy and clever play on attack saw the Hawks dominate in the third term, with three quick goals edging their lead to 27 points within the first seven minutes.
The skipper copped a knee to the ribs from Luke Hodge early in the third term, leaving him winded. Boak was taken to the changerooms for assessment, later returning to the field.
Travis Boak Ribs/Winded - Now being assessed in the change rooms #AFL #AFLPowerHawks
— aflratings.com.au (@aflratings) July 7, 2016
The Power were unable to move the ball forward of centre, with the play locked in Hawthorn’s attack – the inside 50 count 7-1 in the Hawks’ favour at the 10-minute mark of the term.
Port Adelaide’s first goal of the second half came from Justin Westhoff, cutting the margin to 21 points.
Injury woes continued for Port as Logan Austin came off second-best in a marking contest and was helped off the field to the applause of the 43,000-strong crowd – he later returned to the game.
Port's injury woes grow.
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) July 7, 2016
Logan Austin very groggy in the hands of trainers after falling in a marking contest. #AFLPowerHawks
Speaking of the crowd – they were up in arms over some controversial umpiring decisions, and made no bones about expressing it - particularly over an unpaid Justin Westhoff mark.
Couldn't keep watching the footy. Umpiring was making me feel nauseous #AFLPowerHawks
— Andrew Shaw (@flightandacrash) July 7, 2016
Seems those crazy guys running around with whistles have changed their interpretation of all the rules this week!! #AFLPowerHawks
— Tacca (@tacca1507) July 7, 2016
Kane: "Rarely you see him get frustrated." Umpire pays a free kick against Westhoff for dissent. 5-1 to the Hawks this qtr #AFLPowerHawks
— FIVEaa (@1395FIVEaa) July 7, 2016
Adelaide Oval crowd right now...#AFLPowerHawks pic.twitter.com/zOQ8w1CaC8
— The Wolf (@WillHillWolf) July 7, 2016
Port Adelaide fought hard to trim the deficit, and managed to slot one through some Wingard magic in the 25th minute.
But Hawthorn wasted no time in earning the six points back through Shaun Burgoyne, and then again almost immediately with a snap to Sicily.
Three quarter time saw the Hawks leading by 30 points.
FOURTH QUARTER
With a mammoth task in the fourth term, Port Adelaide held hope early by snagging the first goal in a set shot to Robbie Gray.
It was tit for tat between the sides as Jack Gunston responded quickly for the Hawks with his second major for the night, followed by Karl Amon who pushed the margin back to 25 points with 13 minutes left of play.
Q4 9'
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) July 7, 2016
Amon GOAL
PA 83-58 HAW#AFLPowerHawks
Cam O’Shea was pinged for holding the ball in the visitors’ forward 50 and Gunston capitalised, slotting yet another and putting them 30 points clear.
Loose defence from the Power left a waiting Puopolo at the back of the pack – he snagged the ball and clinched another easy goal for the Hawks.
After two quarters without a touch, Jay Schulz sparked a late surge for the Power with a beautiful goal late in the fourth quarter from the boundary line, followed by a couple of clever ones to Karl Amon and Ollie Wines.
Great goal by @Jschulz28 from the boundary line from 50 metres out, Port 10.6.66 Haw 14.11.95. #AFLPowerHawks
— AFL LIVE football (@aflliveradio) July 7, 2016
Late charge by Port Adelaide #AFL #AFLPowerHawks
— aflratings.com.au (@aflratings) July 7, 2016
Let's go lads!! #weareportadelaide pic.twitter.com/zs7wJxJ0Fe
— PAFC_NSWACT (@PAFC_NSWACT) July 7, 2016
2.29 ⏰ We need three goals#AFLPowerHawks
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) July 7, 2016
…but it wasn’t enough to bring the Power home.
The Hawks hung on; claiming the win by 22 points.
Full time at Adelaide Oval #AFLPowerHawks pic.twitter.com/8LeF2cPGGJ
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) July 7, 2016
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 3.3 5.4 7.4 12.7 (79)
HAWTHORN 3.1 6.4 11.10 15.11(101)
PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU’S BEST
Gray, Broadbent, Krakouer, Hartlett, Wingard
GOALS
Wingard 3, Wines, Amon, Schulz, Gray 2, Westhoff 1
CROWD
43,025 at Adelaide Oval
INJURIES
Ebert, Hartlett, Austin (TBC)