PORT Adelaide has kept its finals hopes alive and put a serious dent in Hawthorn’s September plans after claiming a hard-fought 18-point win at AAMI Stadium.

The 18.13 (121) to 14.19 (103) win takes them to nine wins and into the top eight after Essendon lost to West Coast in the final game of the round at Subiaco Oval.

Port Adelaide is a game ahead of both Essendon and Hawthorn with just four rounds to go and has a good chance of participating in finals in 2009.

The inconsistent Power started the game tentatively, but found their mojo in the second term and kept coming to overrun the Hawks.

Hawthorn finished with more scoring shots than the home side, but was woefully inaccurate in front of goals with Lance Franklin (2.7) the main culprit.

Livewire forward Robbie Gray also had issues finding the middle of the big sticks finishing with 4.3 while Warren Tredrea and Justin Westhoff finished with three goals each.

Travis Boak starred with 35 possessions and Shaun Burgoyne (26 possessions) and Danyle Pearce (27) were also instrumental.

Franklin, Luke Hodge, Brent Guerra and Jarryd Roughead all finished with two goals for Hawthorn and Chance Bateman was sensational with 27 touches and a goal.

The Power found themselves under the pump from the word go in the first quarter at AAMI Stadium.

Hawthorn set-up its zone to perfection and the home side, who appeared to be going around in circles, struggled to clear the first line.

The Hawks, with the aid of the breeze, created four of the first five scoring shots but managed just one major to Brad Sewell.

The Power committed numerous skill errors under Hawthorn’s relentless pressure, but managed to muster a goal through Warren Tredrea.

Hawthorn continued to run the ball freely, setting-up goals to Josh Kennedy and Jarryd Roughead before Port Adelaide steadied.

Coach Mark Williams shifted Chad Cornes to defence and Danyle Pearce, who was being tagged by Ben McGlynn, and Travis Boak got involved in the middle.

Goals to Gray and Justin Westhoff cut the deficit to just two points, but a freak goal to Brendan Whitecross halted the Power’s surge.

The game opened-up with David Rodan, Hodge and Tredrea going goal-for-goal to give Hawthorn a narrow two-point lead at the first change.

The Hawks failed to take their chances again early in the second term.

Gray eluded the Hawthorn defence to kick two goals as the home side slammed on six majors-to-three to secure an eight-point-lead at half time.

The second half started in familiar fashion with Hawthorn in control and Franklin spraying another two shots on goal.

McGlynn gave his side some reward for effort with a goal to put the Hawks back in front, but the Power wrestled back the momentum.

A solid bump from Matt Thomas on Xavier Ellis sparked several spot fires, but served its purpose in setting-up a goal to Nick Salter.

Port Adelaide kept coming and Hawthorn began to crumble under the pressure.

A poor decision in defence from Tom Murphy caused a turnover and allowed Gray to pounce and dribble home a boundary line miracle.

Brent Renouf and McGlynn had opportunities to cut into the 18-point lead, but again their accuracy was astray and the margin remained three goals at the final change.

In the final term, Bateman gave Hawthorn the perfect start with a beautiful running goal in the opening two minutes.

But Pearce set sail from outside50m and the bouncing ball, for the third time in the game, cleared multiple players to go through for a goal.

Franklin had a chance to respond straight away but his kick found the woodwork for the third time and Tredrea made the Hawks pay with a goal at the other end.

Roughead tried to lift his side with a mark of the year contender, but his short kick failed to his Franklin alone in the goalsquare and the ball trickled through for another behind.

Westhoff’s third goal signaled the end of Hawthorn’s comeback and, perhaps, season.

The Power will now prepare for a trip to WA to play Fremantle, while the Hawks will take on an unbeaten St Kilda at Docklands.


MATCH DETAILS

Port Adelaide  5.1 12.5 15.8 18.13 (121)
Hawthorn       5.3 10.9 11.14 14.19 (103)

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Gray 4, Tredrea, Westhoff 3, Rodan, Salter 2, Boak, Logan, Burgoyne, Pearce
Hawthorn: Hodge, Guerra, Roughead, Franklin 2, Sewell, Kennedy, Whitecross, McGlynn, Bateman, Taylor

BEST
Port Adelaide: Boak, Burgoyne, Gray, Pearce, Brogan, Rodan, Surjan, Krakouer, Hartlett
Hawthorn: Bateman, Hodge, Mitchell, Brown

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Cassisi (forehead)
Hawthorn: Guerra (shoulder), Ellis (heavy knock)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Ryan, Pannell, McInerney
Official crowd: 25,154 at AAMI Stadium

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs.

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