HAVING easily accounted for Port in each of their last five meetings, past form suggests the reigning premiers should have no issues on Saturday night. But this is the first premiership season game the Hawks will enter as underdogs since round four, 2012 and history is also working against them in that respect. In that encounter Hawthorn narrowly fell to favourites West Coast in Perth and Port is tipped to replicate the scenario in Adelaide. The home side is the flavour of the month, perhaps the season, and rightfully so. The Power have proved unbeatable at their 'Portress' and with a long, star-studded list of injuries, it will take a Herculean effort form the Hawks to steal this one.
WHERE AND WHEN: Adelaide Oval, Saturday May 24, 7.10pm ACST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for the broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
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
R21, 2011, Hawthorn 31.11 (197) d Port Adelaide 5.2 (32) at the MCG
R7, 2011, Hawthorn 15.14 (104) d Port Adelaide 10.12 (72) at AAMI Stadium
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THE SIX POINTS
1.This is a battle between the AFL's two highest scoring teams; Hawthorn is ranked first with 19 goals a game and the Power second, with 17 a game.
2. The inside 50s count reflects the awesome scoring power of these sides with the Power ranked first with 57 per game and the Hawks ranked second with 55 per game.
3. Further, these sides are two of competition's most accurate teams in front of goal. Hawthorn is the league's measuring stick, kicking at goal with an accuracy of 60.9 per cent, while Port is third at 52.2 per cent.
4. As if to highlight the change at Alberton, just four meetings ago the Hawks obliterated the Power by a club-record 165 points in round 21, 2011. Hawthorn booted 31 goals to Port's five.
5. Both these teams are amongst the stingiest in the league. Only West Coast has conceded fewer points this season (576), with the Power (599) conceding just one point less than the Hawks (600).
6. Hawthorn forward Cyril Rioli is on the slide in the Official AFL Player Ratings, brought to you by Gatorade. His absence on Saturday, coupled with a strong performance from Western Bulldogs star Ryan Griffen, could see him drop to tenth.
Prediction: Port Adelaide by 28 points
