DESPITE HAVING suffered its heaviest defeat of the year, Port Adelaide has shown a capacity to push the premiership favourites for most of the game in a spirited early showing at Aurora Stadium.

End Game

The Power demonstrated pluck and courage in patches and held one of the flag favourites honest for the first term (outscoring Hawthorn 22-9).

Needing to respond on the field after one of the club’s hardest weeks, the Power players proceeded to challenge Hawthorn and fight back in the third quarter after being overtaken on the scoreboard during the second term.

The effort could not hold however, as Hawthorn dismantled Port’s defence in the final term to register a 72-point victory on the back of an eleven goal performance.

The Scoreboard

Port Adelaide 13.9 (87) def by
Hawthorn 24.15 (159)

Best: Pearce, Boak, Brad Ebert, Schulz, Cornes

Goals: Schulz 4, Brett Ebert, Broadbent 2, Lobbe, Stewart, Brad Ebert, Boak, Westhoff

Injuries: Schulz (Cut Above Eye), Travis Boak (cork)

Leader board

Disposals leader: Travis Boak (32)
Marks leader: Jay Schulz (8)
Tackles leader: Domenic Cassisi, Jarrad Redden (6)
Clearances leader: Travis Boak (6)
Hitouts leader: Matthew Lobbe (15)
Scores leader: Jay Schulz (25 points)
Dreamteam leader: Travis Boak (103 points)

Headlines

Westhoff nominated for Goal of the Year

Port Adelaide demonstrated mettle in its attack on Hawthorn and challenged the star Hawks by playing determined football. Its ability to issue an on-field response was the silver lining in what turned out to be Port Adelaide’s biggest loss for the year, but it was a considerable effort for the Power to fight back into contention after Hawthorn stole the momentum in the second quarter with eight unanswered goals.

The performances notably of Travis Boak, Brad Ebert and Danyle Pearce through the midfield, as well as Jay Schulz again holding down the forward fort with four goals to his name, helped the Power position itself within striking distance at three quarter time.

The Hawks destructive response in the final term however - kicking 11 goals to 2 - highlights exactly where Port Adelaide is in relation to the top ranked teams in the AFL.

Interim coach Garry Hocking emphasised the medium to long term goal for the Power is to focus on improving its defensive structures after the Hawthorn small forward wreaked havoc in the final term, whilst Schulz has called on his teammates to take responsibility for their on-field results and turn their fortunes around.

Next Game

Port Adelaide returns to Adelaide to play the West Coast Eagles on Sunday afternoon. The Eagles are looking to secure a top four berth whilst the Power wants to claim a big scalp before the end of the season.

Injury list

Port Adelaide has an extensive injury list with several players booked in for surgery.

Read more: Injury Report

Coming Up

Sunday 19 August, 12.40pm (CST)
Port Adelaide v West Coast Eagles
AAMI Stadium, West Lakes