PORT Adelaide has all but dashed Hawthorn’s hopes of a top-four finish, with a thrilling eight-point win at AAMI Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Hawks led by 18 points midway through the third quarter, but the Power booted five of the next seven goals to snatch the lead.
Daniel Stewart kicked the sealer from a mark in the goal square, with the final scores 13.14 (92) to 12.12 (84).
Former Tiger Jay Schulz finished with four goals to be the most dominant forward on the ground, while Kane Cornes (23 touches) kept Brownlow Medal fancy Luke Hodge to just 18 disposals.
Danyle Pearce overcame a knock to the jaw to kick two goals in less than two minutes in the fourth term, and Alipate Carlile and Troy Chaplin kept Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead to four goals-between them.
Captain Sam Mitchell (22 disposals) and midfielder Brad Sewell (23) battled hard for the Hawks, while Brent Renouf (two goals) impressed in the ruck and around the ground.
The margin rarely ventured into double digits in the four-quarter arm wrestle.
The Power kicked the opening two goals of the game, but Hawthorn got going midway through the term to lead by five points at quarter time.
They held on for a six-point lead at half time, and extended their advantage with two quick goals to Franklin soon after.
Just six seconds remained in the term when Grant Birchall found an answer to two Schulz goals, and it was then that tempers boiled over.
In a scene sure to draw the scrutiny of the match review panel, Cyril Rioli and Paul Stewart were key figures in a melee involving many of their teammates.
Port Adelaide 3.3 7.6 9.9 13.14 (92)
Hawthorn 4.2 8.6 11.8 12.12 (84)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Schulz 4, Pearce 2, D.Stewart 2, Hitchcock, Cassisi, Rodan, Westhoff, Ebert
Hawthorn: Franklin 3, Renouf 2, Osborne, Rioli, Ellis, Mitchell, Young, Birchall, Roughead
BEST
Port Adelaide: Schulz, Westhoff, K.Cornes, Cassisi, Pearce
Hawthorn: Renouf, Mitchell, Rioli, Sewell
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Salter (calf), Pearce (bruised jaw)
Hawthorn: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Shane Stewart, Shaun Ryan, Corey Bowen
Official crowd: 22,340 at AAMI Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
