SUMMARY
The rematch of last year's epic preliminary final will be played on a similarly momentous stage: under lights on Anzac Day at Adelaide Oval. Hawthorn and Port Adelaide are the competition's two highest possessing, and the Hawks also lead the AFL for scoring. The players are priming themselves for a physical clash - will Hawthorn continue its dominating form or can the home side build on last weekend's narrow win over North Melbourne and cause the upset?
WHERE AND WHEN: Adelaide Oval, Saturday April 25, 7.10pm ACST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
2PF, 2014, Hawthorn 15.7 (97) d Port Adelaide 13.16 (94) at the MCG
R10, 2014, Port Adelaide 15.10 (100) d Hawthorn 13.8 (86) at Adelaide Oval
R16, 2013, Hawthorn 19.10 (124) d Port Adelaide 12.7 (79) at AAMI Stadium
R20, 2012, Hawthorn 24.15 (159) d Port Adelaide 13.9 (87) at Aurora Stadium
R11, 2012, Hawthorn 16.12 (108) d Port Adelaide 9.8 (62) at AAMI Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Hawks have the two top ranked possession winners in 2015; Jordan Lewis tops the list with 110 ahead of captain Luke Hodge with 101. The Power’s top ranked player is Robbie Gray who is equal 15th (86).
2. It was the Power’s midfield that proved the difference in their win over the Hawks early in 2014. Travis Boak had 34 possessions, Brad Ebert 28 and Kane Cornes 25 while Angus Monfries booted four goals.
3. The teams have met 15 times in Adelaide with nine wins to six in the Power’s favour. However Hawthorn has won five of its last six games in Adelaide.
4. Hawthorn is the number one scoring team so far in 2015, kicking an average score of 108.6 per game. Port Adelaide has struggled with two losses to start the season, and is ranked third last with 75 points per game.
5. Hawthorn is the number one ranked disposal team in 2015 averaging 407 a game but Port Adelaide isn’t far behind, ranked second at 399.3 a game.
6. Neither Hawthorn nor Port Adelaide have a player ranked inside the top 10 in Official AFL Player Ratings. Hawk Jarryd Roughead is his side's best at No. 11 and Travis Boak is the Power's best at No. 13.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Jarryd Roughead. He was the match-winner for Hawthorn in last year's preliminary final, booting six goals in the three-point win. If 'Roughy' fires it's going to be difficult for the Power to notch a second win of the year.
PREDICTION: Hawthorn by 26 points
