On this day, May 24, 1870, Port Adelaide played its first ever game against a team known as the "Young Australians". There was no organised football competition in South Australia and the match, played in what is now suburban Adelaide, ended in a nil-all draw. Fast-forward 144 years and the club – one of the youngest in the AFL – took on a powerhouse at Adelaide Oval but the result was far more suggestive than the club's first. Hawthorn wasn't at full strength, but you can only beat who you play and Port did so convincingly.

 

Hawthorn's coaches can talk down the loss of so many quality players as much as they like, but their stars were sorely missed. The club entered the game minus Sam Mitchell, Cyril Rioli, Josh Gibson and Jarryd Roughead – key personnel at every line. Considering the Hawks' inside 50 advantage (55-47) and the subbing of Ben McEvoy, Roughead in particular would have proved a real asset. If the Power in Adelaide is a competition measuring stick, though, then Hawthorn fans shouldn't be too concerned – once fully fit their side will prove very difficult to overcome.

 

The Hawthorn skipper returned to the side from hamstring tightness that saw him withdrawn from the club's round-eight match against the Sydney Swans. Hodge was below his usual best with 20 touches and could have questions to answer in regards to high contact made against Chad Wingard. Hodge's elbow looked to raise just after contact with the Power star, and it was enough to give away a free kick right in front of goal in the second term. Wingard duly converted the opportunity, helping push the Power out to a 23-point half-time lead.

 

The top-of-the-table clash was billed as Port Adelaide's biggest test this season and its fans responded. An almighty crowd of 52,233 flocked to Adelaide Oval on Saturday night; an AFL record in Adelaide bettering the previous record of 51,140 at a Showdown in round five, 2003 at AAMI Stadium. Football at Adelaide Oval has proved an almighty success in terms of crowd figures this season, with Saturday night proving the third crowd of at least 50,000 in 2014.

 

Some of the stuff Wingard can do with a football is just ridiculous. At training during the week he was spotted flicking the ball up to himself like a soccer player, then spinning it on his finger as if it were a basketball. The 20-year-old's a mad basketball fan so it seems fitting that his number one highlight on Saturday conjured images of NBA legend Magic Johnson. Wingard lured three opponents before flicking a no-look pass over his head to Robbie Gray, who ran into an open goal.

 

Twitter: @AFL_Harry