Ball magnet Tom Mitchell leads Hawthorn to a fighting win over Port Adelaide in Launceston

THIS wasn’t a Hawthorn victory built on sublime ball movement and silver service going forward. Instead, it was delivered via grit and determination — and a fair amount of luck, reports Adam Smith.

Jack Watts celebrates after kicking a crucial goal for the Power. Picture: Getty Images

THIS wasn’t a Hawthorn victory built on sublime ball movement and silver service going forward, an area coach Alastair Clarkson identified as one needing to be addressed from recent weeks.

Instead, the hard fought 9.10 (64) to 9.7 (61) win over Port Adelaide in Launceston, the Hawks’ first in a month, was delivered via grit and determination — and a fair amount of luck.

GAME RECAP: HOW THE HAWKS, POWER PLAYED OUT

GAME STATS: SEE ALL STATS AND SUPERCOACH SCORES

Ball magnet Tom Mitchell led the initial comeback in the second quarter — after the Hawks had fallen 24 points behind following Port’s barnstorming first — to help his side lock the scores at the main break.

Seemingly unopposed Mitchell had 21 disposals and two goals, which were courtesy of 50m and 100m penalties, and 273m gained to lead all comers on the ground.

Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara celebrate a goal for the Hawks. Picture: Getty Images

Port sent Tom Rockliff to him after the break and while he curbed his influence the Hawks completely shut down the visitor’s run and denied them the ball in a telling third quarter.

Despite kicking into the breeze Hawthorn outscored the Power two goals to one, and should have led by more than seven points at the last change after skipper Jarryd Roughead sprayed three set shots.

Still, the Hawks patient plan to keep the ball away from Port was pivotal as they took 39 more uncontested marks and had 45 more disposals.

Not to be outdone the Power surged themselves in the last, kicking the first goal when Jack Watts snuck out the back from some slick ball movement to cut the gap to a point, before Luke Breust replied from the pocket when he was awarded a free kick.

A long bomb from Charlie Dixon dragged the visitors back to within a point, and when Robbie Gray took a contested mark at the front of a pack and nailed his fourth major entering time on the Power had snatched the lead.

But the seesawing encounter wasn’t finished, with Roughead adjudged to have been caught high in a tackle 25m out directly in front, and he calmly slotted the goal to see the Hawks edge ahead again.

Jack Gunston, Breust and Jarman Impey all had chances to ice the match towards the death only to miss, as the two sides played out a tense final few minutes before the siren sounded with Port heading forward for one last hurrah.

Shaun Burgoyne celebrates after kicking a goal against the Power. Picture: AAP Images

Hawthorn snuck home despite losing the clearances 40-27, with Paddy Ryder dominating Ben McEvoy and John Ceglar to have more hitouts than the two combined (35-31).

McEvoy was, however, more influential around the ground with 15 disposals and two telling goals.

Mitchell finished with 28 touches and eight tackles, Liam Shiels had a big second half to gather 23 possessions while James Sicily’s ability to intercept across half back was crucial.

Hawthorn has for the meantime climbed back into the top eight, and now heads into its bye at 6-5.

HAWTHORN 1.2 5.3 7.7 9.10 (64)

PORT ADELAIDE 5.2 5.3 6.6 9.7 (61)

SMITH’S BEST

Hawks: Sicily, Mitchell, Burgoyne, Gunston, Shiels, McEvoy.

Power: Ryder, Westhoff, R. Gray, Jonas, Motlop, Polec.

GOALS

Hawks: Mitchell 2, McEvoy 2, Burgoyne, Breust, Impey, Puopolo, Roughead.

Power: R. Gray 4, Watts 3, Westhoff, Dixon.

REPORTS

Shaun Burgoyne (Haw) for rough conduct against Jared Polec (Port).

INJURIES

Power: Dixon (knee).

UMPIRES

Gavine, Nicholls, Hosking

CROWD

13,007 at York Park

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Originally published as Ball magnet Tom Mitchell leads Hawthorn to a fighting win over Port Adelaide in Launceston