This story originally appeared on afl.com.au

1. The Hawks sink to an all-time low
Hawthorn had strung a run of four wins in six matches together entering this clash and had shown in patches shades of the team opponents had come to fear and respect. That was shattered in the space of an hour on Thursday when it produced the lowest first-half score in the 93-year VFL/AFL history of the club. The once free-scoring Hawks went to quarter-time without scoring and remarkably entered the long break goalless at 0.3. The opening half highlighted everything which has slipped in the Hawks’ game. They were belted in contested ball - nothing new. But Hawthorn sides of old knew how to win the ball back and relaunch off half-back. On Thursday night, Port was allowed to run the ball out of stoppages and across half-back at will. From there the hard-pressing Power simply pinned Alastair Clarkson’s men in one half of the ground; the Hawks' once famous rebound was non-existent.

MATCH REPORT

2. Dixon no longer a potential star, he’s there
Charlie Dixon has long been branded a potential star. But it’s time that tag was dropped and he was elevated into the star power forward category. Entering this match, Dixon ranked second in the AFL in contested marks, and fifth in marks inside 50. His performances against the Brisbane Lions and West Coast were awesome and he took it to another level again in the opening term against the Hawks with an extraordinary display. All eyes were on the big forward to see if last week’s ‘play on’ controversy against the Cats would distract him. He shrugged that off within minutes, when he marked and snapped brilliantly from the boundary. By quarter-time he’d produced one of the best single-quarter performances by a power forward this year, with two goals, four marks, two tackles and a goal assist.

 

3. Port has underachieved at 6-4
This subhead is intended as a compliment. The Power is a genuinely good side and Ken Hinkley must demand more of them heading into a month-long stretch of matches which offers them the chance to go to 10-4. Port has led or been within a goal of taking the lead in the final term of all 10 of its matches this season, but has come up short four times. Most critics have cut them some slack after the Power's defeats, preferring to highlight their improvement on 2016. But Hinkley’s side is playing as well as any in the League right now and it is time for them to take 2017 by the scruff of the neck. Port’s ferocity, method with ball in hand and relentless defensive work rate was awesome against the Hawks to half-time. The Power became the first team in more than seven years to hold a side goalless for a half of football.

4. Hawk veterans, middle tier back under the spotlight
Some of Hawthorn’s proudest players have been under pressure at times this season and they are likely to again be put under the spotlight after poor collective efforts as their side was humiliated by the Power. A week after producing a brilliant final term against the Swans, champion Shaun Burgoyne looked tired and failed to impact the match against his old club. At age 34, there are again questions about how long he has left in the tank. Josh Gibson had a nightmare first term on Charlie Dixon, albeit the Hawks are undermanned down back and it was an almost unfair ask. The Hawks' next tier of experienced players also struggled. Forwards Jack Gunston and Paul Puopolo were starved of opportunity but were poor. Ben McEvoy was well beaten in the ruck, runners Taylor Duryea and Isaac Smith struggled, as did Liam Shiels. This was one of the Hawthorn’s least experienced sides in years, and its leaders couldn’t carry the youngsters.