1. Clarko wanted a physical response and he got it
Alastair Clarkson's comment questioning the hardness of Port Adelaide in the build-up to this clash were as much aimed at getting a response from his own club as the opposition. The Power came into the match having won three of the past four clashes against the Hawks and had rattled them early in recent games. By creating a bit of pre-match hype, Clarkson ensured his side was on edge and ready for what was a predictably physical start. The intensity of the match in the opening half was almost finals like and the Hawks acquitted themselves well to lead at half-time. The match was extremely contested for the first half, but the Hawks flexed their muscle after the long break and Clarkson would have been delighted with the way his side forced the Power into submission.
2. Ebert down as Power knocked around
The sight of any player coughing blood is disturbing and Port Adelaide was clearly concerned for Brad Ebert after he landed heavily from a marking contest. Ebert flew high and marked strongly in the opening term, but was turned in the air and crashed to the ground. His back and side took the initial impact, before his head hit the turf. The midfielder looked unwell and was spitting up blood. He came from the ground and he left the stadium at quarter-time to be taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for precautionary scans and observation. Port's night got worse in the third term when Travis Boak got a knee to the ribs in a marking contest opposed to Luke Hodge. Logan Austin and Hamish Hartlett were also dazed in separate incidents and Charlie Dixon looked sore at three-quarter time.
3. Don't poke Cyril
We've seen it all before. Opposition sides have tried to rattle Cyril Rioli physically and verbally and it has backfired. Port tried to get under Cyril's skin on Thursday night and the champ responded in a fashion only he can. The four-time premiership star only finished with 16 disposals but was near best afield. He kicked three goals, laid four tackles and provided four or five classic 'Cyril' moments. He also took the non-mark of the year when he stood on Matthew Broadbent's shoulders, but couldn't quite control the spectacular attempt.
4. Hawks do homework around stoppages
Only two sides, statistically, have had the better of Hawthorn at scores from stoppages in head-to-head clashes since 2014. North Melbourne narrowly leads the Hawks and Port came into this clash with a significant advantage of 93 points. Port's slippery midfielders and forwards have given the Hawks more headaches than any other side in recent times, and it was a key area heading into the match. Hawthorn's cause was helped by Port's ruck woes and the big Hawks had a clear aerial edge. But coach Alastair Clarkson and his staff also did their homework. Hawthorn won both the stoppage count and scores from stoppage statistic, and it had a significant impact on the result. Early in the third term the Hawks' clearances helped them blow the game apart.
5. Port's season summed up in two hours
This match very succinctly summed up the Power's season to date. For periods they have shown they can match the intensity and class of the best teams in the competition. They gave Hawthorn as much as it could handle in a physical and intense opening half, where the pressure and intensity was elite from both teams. But the Power's surrender in the third term, as the Hawks turned up the heat, was meek. Port was unable to match Hawthorn's willingness to run and put their heads over the ball and were cast aside and all but condemned to second year without finals. The Power currently occupies ninth spot on the ladder and you couldn't argue they belong anywhere else. They are 7-2 against sides outside the top eight, and 0-6 against top-eight teams.
