PORT ADELAIDE has defeated Hawthorn on the back of its best JLT Community Series performance and five goals to rookie goal kicker Brett Eddy.
Eddy, a former favourite at the Hickinbotham Oval from his prolific forward line career with the Panthers in the SANFL, showed he hadn't lost his touch in Adelaide's south with a starring role in attack.
His five goals all came in the second half - four frontloaded into the third term.
But Eddy's starring role was set up from the Power's consistent wins in the middle, with Paddy Ryder dominant in the ruck with 10 hit outs to advantage.
That helped the Power's clearance from the middle, with Ollie Wines on the end of Ryder's superb work more often than any other player.
Despite poor conditions, Port looked a different side to the ones that lost earlier JLT Series games to St Kilda and Richmond.
Running hard and bringing intense tackle pressure characterised the Power's first half, and its continuation in the third term helped break Hawthorn to open a 32-point lead at three-quarter time.
Port Adelaide's focus now turns to Sydney - the vanquished grand finallists - which will host the Power in Round 1 at the SCG on Saturday 25 March.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 0.3.0 0.4.5 0.11.8 0.14.12 (96)
HAWTHORN 0.1.4 1.4.6 1.4.9 1.8.11 (68)
Goals
Eddy 5, S. Gray, Impey, Powell-Pepper, Wines, Neade, Young, Ryder, Amon
portadelaidefc.com.au’s best
Wines, Powell-Pepper, Ebert, Eddy, Byrne-Jones
Injuries
Boak (corked leg)
Reports
nil
Crowd
5,628 at Hickinbotham Oval
