PORT Adelaide produced a history-making first half to easily account for Hawthorn by 51 points at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.

The Hawks were kept goalless in the opening two quarters and recorded their lowest first-half score in club history, scoring just three behinds.

Despite turning in a more competitive effort after the main break, the Hawks were comprehensively defeated – 13.20 (98) to 7.5 (47) – in front of a crowd of 37,910.

Full match coverage and stats

Key forward Charlie Dixon booted four goals and was dominant in the air to make amends for his costly brain fade against Geelong last week, while milestone man Brad Ebert (34 possessions and 12 tackles) was simply brilliant in his 200th game.

Ryan Burton (25 possessions and 11 marks) performed admirably for Hawthorn, but his effort went unrewarded.

The Power (6-4) jumped back up to fourth on the ladder and looks on track to feature in the top eight for the first time since 2014.

Five talking points: Port Adelaide v Hawthorn

Finals football is a long way off for the 14th-placed Hawks (4-7).

The result was in the bag at half time with the Power leading by 59 points – 9.8 (62) to 0.3 (3).

"It was pretty brutal football, wasn't it, when you can do that to a side like Hawthorn coming off a pretty strong win," Power coach Ken Hinkley said.

"You've got to be really pleased with that.

"I really don't want to focus too much on the second half because I think when you can do that sort of damage in the first, you should be pretty respectful of what that looked like.

"First half was fantastic, second half was a bit scrappy."

James Sicily ended the goal drought with a 25m set shot from a free kick in the third minute of the third term.

WATCH: Charlie crushes hawks in stunning display

Goals from Paul Puopolo and Luke Bruest gave the Hawks something to cheer about, before Dixon booted his third late in the quarter.

Dixon began the game with a bang, wasting little time in having his first shot at goal to ensure he didn't exceed the 30-second shot clock.

The Power charged out of the gates to lead by 41 points – 6.5 to 0.0 - after an incredible first quarter.

It was the first time the Hawks had been kept scoreless in an opening quarter since round seven, 2006, against the Brisbane Lions at Carrara.

"We couldn't have had a worse start," Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said.

"They had the game on their terms, but I was really pleased with the endeavour of our players.

"We hadn't kicked a goal, interstate, at half time, and we could have turned our toes up.

"But we've got a young group, still led by some experienced players who have got some pride in their performance, we hung in there and won the last two quarters.

"It could have easily been a 20-goal loss and it was pleasing the way we fought the game out."

It was also the first time the Power has kept an opponent scoreless in an opening term since it entered the competition in 1997.

The Power dominated all the key statistics in the first quarter, with 23 inside 50s to five, 132 possessions to 82 and 19 more contested possessions than the Hawks.

Brad Ebert is chaired from the ground after a brilliant showing in his 200th. Picture: AFL Photos

MEDICAL ROOM
Port Adelaide: Winger Karl Amon was a late scratching with a knee injury sustained against Geelong last week. "Karl tried to warm up and he still wasn't happy, and I thought we've got a player who's in pretty good nick, let's give him an opportunity and take no risks," Hinkley said. The Power didn't have any injuries during the game. Midfielder Chad Wingard is expected to return next week from a calf injury.

Hawthorn: Half-back flanker Taylor Duryea copped a heavy knock from Power ruckman Paddy Ryder, but returned to the ground. "He got a knock, came off the ground, got it assessed and then he was right to go back on, so he finished the game," Clarkson said. 

NEXT UP
The Power can continue to build momentum when they take on Essendon at Etihad Stadium next Saturday, 7.25pm AEST. The Hawks will be aiming for redemption against Gold Coast at the MCG next Saturday, 1.45pm AEST.

PORT ADELAIDE   6.5   9.8   10.15   13.20   (98)
HAWTHORN           0.0   0.3      3.4      7.5     (47) 

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Dixon 4, Impey 2, S.Gray, Ah Chee, Powell-Pepper, R.Gray, Broadbent, Boak, Ryder
Hawthorn: Sicily 2, Roughead 2, Breust 2, Puopolo

BEST
Port Adelaide: Ebert, Dixon, Wines, Ah Chee, Hartlett, Hombsch, Polec
Hawthorn: Burton, Mitchell, Hodge

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Adelaide: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Dagleigh, Chamberlain, Findlay, Fleer

Official crowd: 37,910