Port Adelaide’s big win over Hawthorn a statement of premiership credentials

IN dismantling perennial powerhouse Hawthorn, Port Adelaide sent a message that it is not only a strong finals contender but genuine flag hope.

Charlie Dixon kicked four goals in Port Adelaide’s win over Hawthorn.

THAT’S how you make a statement!

Charlie Dixon put a tough week behind him to shine on the big stage and Brad Ebert starred in his 200th game as Port Adelaide showed it is poised to end two years in the finals wilderness.

In thumping perennial powerhouse Hawthorn by 51 points at Adelaide Oval — and keeping Alastair Clarkson’s side to its lowest ever half-time score of 0.3 — the Power sent a message that it is not only a strong finals contender but genuine flag hope.

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After suffering a heartbreaking two-point loss to Geelong at the Cattery last week when key forward Dixon failed to beat the 30-second shot clock in the dying minutes, Port last night flexed its muscles to stun the Hawks and rocket from eighth to fourth on the back of a league-best 148.6 percentage.

The Power dominated from the opening bounce and had winners all over the ground, reducing Hawthorn — the team that robbed it of a grand final berth in 2014 with a three-point preliminary final victory — to a rabble in the opening half when it raced to a 10-goal lead.

Port’s performance was almost complete, with strong attacking play where players ran in numbers and used the ball with precision, complemented by strong and ruthless defensive play.

Charlie Dixon kicked four goals in Port Adelaide’s win.

The only downside was shoddy goalkicking — it booted 13.20 — which allowed the Hawks to win the second half.

Hawthorn took 40 minutes to score — a behind to Luke Breust — and for the first time in its AFL history, the Power kept a team goalless for the first half.

The Hawks’ first goal did not come until 2 min, 50 sec into the third term when James Sicily took advantage of a downfield free kick.

The Power’s dominance was reflected in the lopsided 64-26 inside-50 count.

Midfielder Ebert led the way for the Power with 34 disposals in his head-to-head match-up with Hawks ball magnet Tom Mitchell, Dixon was outstanding, particularly early, with 20 disposals, eight marks and four goals, and Hamish Hartlett and Matthew Broadbent provided great rebound from defence.

Port suffered a blow before the opening bounce when hard-running midfielder Karl Amon, who hurt his knee against Geelong, withdrew after feeling sore during the pre-game warm-ups.

Robbie Gray and Jarman Impey celebrate a goal. Picture: Sarah Reed

He was replaced by former Demon Jimmy Toumpas, who was brought in for his first AFL game of the season.

Dixon took no time in stamping his imprint on the game.

Rather than be affected by his failure to seal the deal in the final minutes against the Cats, he set Port alight last night with a strong mark and brilliant goal in the opening three minutes.

After marking a Hartlett pass near the boundary line, Dixon took just 10 seconds to hook the ball around his body and split the big white uprights.

He then booted the Power’s second goal from a free kick and played a key role in the third with his cleverly centred ball marked brilliantly in the goalsquare by Jarman Impey.

Jarryd Roughead stood up in the second half for Hawthorn.

By quarter-time, Port had romped to a 41-point lead and held a team scoreless in the opening term for the first time in its history.

Hawthorn was held scoreless in a quarter for the first time since round seven, 2006, against Brisbane.

Port was so dominant in the opening stanza that it had 23 inside 50s to the Hawks’ five and the visitors remarkably did not have one disposal in their forward 50 arc.

Hawthorn’s half-time score of 0.3 was one for the record books, eclipsing the 0.4 it kicked against Collingwood at Victoria Park in 1950.

Originally published as Port Adelaide’s big win over Hawthorn a statement of premiership credentials