A six-goal haul from Jack Gunston helped Hawthorn along to a 31-point win over Port Adelaide at University of Tasmania Stadium on Saturday.
With young Hawks forward Mitch Lewis a late withdrawal after failing to recover from concussion, Gunston more than filled the breach and was a constant threat forward of centre, producing his first six-goal bag in almost four years in the 12.8 (80) to 6.13 (49) victory.
Adding to the Power’s troubles, prolific midfielder Tom Rockliff left the field in the third term with a left hamstring injury and didn't reappear.
The Hawks weren't without their own concerns, though, with defender Jack Scrimshaw hurting his left knee in the third quarter.
Hawthorn wingman Ricky Henderson continued his strong form, amassing a game-high and career-high 37 possessions, nine more than the next-best effort of 28 by Power defender Matthew Broadbent.
A critical element of the Hawks' victory was their effort to win the ruck battle despite being without their gun big man Ben McEvoy. In his absence, Jonathon Ceglar and late inclusion Marc Pittonet provided great drive against the experienced Paddy Ryder and his back-up, debutant Peter Ladhams.
The Hawks started with the aid of a two or three-goal breeze and, after a tense opening between two of the AFL's top three pressure teams, Alastair Clarkson's men broke free in the latter part of the first quarter with four goals, two of them from a lively Gunston.
Power coach Ken Hinkley delivered a withering quarter-time spray to his charges but it didn't have immediate results, with Gunston snapping his third major early in the second term to stretch the margin to 32 points.
Port didn't score until midway through the second quarter, courtesy of a running shot from Ladhams which just missed.
Moments later, Power youngster Connor Rozee finally put through the Power's first major after running onto a handball from Billy Frampton.
Hawthorn took a 23-point lead into the long interval after restricting Port to 2.3 (15).
The Hawks dominated play early in the third term but didn't capitalise, only for the Power to sweep forward and Rozee to hand off to Karl Amon for a nice running goal to reduce the margin to just 18 points.
Hawthorn twice established five-goal leads but Port refused to go away, lifting its intensity markedly in the latter part of the third term.
A magical soccer-style effort by Gunston with the outside of his right foot was one of the highlights of the contest.
The Power came home with the breeze but failed to make any inroads in the now slippery conditions with Gunston adding two more goals to equal Port Adelaide's team tally.
MEDICAL ROOM
Hawthorn: Promising defender Jack Scrimshaw left the field and went down into the rooms for treatment on his left knee in third term and didn't return to the fray.
Port Adelaide: Midfielder Tom Rockliff suffered a left hamstring injury in the third term and was done for the day.
HAWTHORN 4.1 6.2 9.5 12.8 (80)
PORT ADELAIDE 0.0 2.3 5.7 6.13 (49)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Gunston 6, Cousins, Worpel, Shiels, Scully, Impey, Puopolo
Port Adelaide: Rozee, Duursma, Amon, Powell-Pepper, R.Gray, Ladhams
BEST
Hawthorn: Gunston, Henderson, Sicily, Shiels, Worpel, Scully
Port Adelaide: R.Gray, Boak, Byrne-Jones, Houston, Rockliff, Duursma
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Scrimshaw (knee), Mitch Lewis (concussion) replaced in selected side by Marc Pittonet
Port Adelaide: Rockliff (hamstring)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Mitchell, Whetton, Mollison
Official crowd: 11,637 at University of Tasmania Stadium
