PORT ADELAIDEÂ
6.5 Â 9.8 Â 10.15 Â 13.19 (97)
HAWTHORN
0.0 Â 0.3 Â Â 3.4 Â Â 7.5 (47)
GOALS – Port: Dixon 4, Impey 2, S. Gray, Powell-Pepper, R. Gray, Broadbent, Ah Chee, Ryder, Boak. Hawthorn: Roughead, Sicily, Breust 2, Puopolo.
BEST – Port: Ebert, Dixon, Wines, Broadbent, S. Gray, Toumpas. Hawthorn: Mitchell, Henderson, Hodge, Shiels, Roughead, Burton.
INJURIES – Port: Amon (knee) replaced in selected side by J. Toumpas. Hawthorn: Duryea (heavy knock).
UMPIRES – J. Dalgleish, R. Chamberlain, R. Findlay.
CROWD – 37,910 at Adelaide Oval.
The belief that the once mighty Hawks were in recovery mode was shattered on Thursday night when they produced one of their most shocking first-half performances since their darkest days in the '50s.
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It wasn't so much they were crunched and humiliated by a relentless Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval that must surely lay in the gut of coach Alstair Clarkson, but their bewildering lack of response to a horrible start.
They were held scoreless in an opening term for the first time since round seven, 2006. They were goalless at half-time for the first time since round 14, 2009 when they last failed to make the finals. It was their lowest-ever half-time score.
Was this really Hawthorn, who only 35 games ago were holding up the premiership trophy for a third successive year?
Hawthorn's first score, a behind from a difficult set shot by Luke Breust, came 9 minutes and 20 seconds into the second quarter. Imagine how the younger Hawks felt when the home mob erupted with cheers. And it didn't get any easier.
Even Josh Gibson made some horrible mistakes in the backlines early. Come the second, Luke Hodge kicked across goal and Port's Robbie Gray intercepted and goaled. Score 7.7 to nothing. Liam Shiels just slammed the ball with a shot for goal and kicked out on the full. Score 9.8 to 0.3 minutes before half-time.
Finally, 2 min 47 sec into the third quarter, James Sicily goaled with a free kick downfield. It was a long wait for the bookmakers who laid bets on who would kick their first. Another came four minutes later from Paul Puopolo with the help of a 50-metre penalty.
Look at these damning statistics in Port's favour at this stage: plus 68 disposals, 36-15 inside-50s, and 24 more contested possessions. Yet, for all of this slaughter, the Hawks weren't too bad in other areas. What didn't appear was their abysmal skills level.
This was the coldest night recorded in Adelaide's history, and Port were hot. And as this script demanded, Charlie Dixon, who may have cost Port a win over Geelong the previous week when he held onto the ball too long taking a shot for goal, set this amazing charge to destroying the Hawks.
Dixon kicked the opening two goals and was instrumental in the third, and then proceeded to knock-over the inept Hawks. He was like a bully in a lolly shop.
Not surprisingly, Port had so many players who excelled, especially Brad Ebert in his 200th AFL game. It was one to tell his future grandkids; well done.
Without meaning to diminish these superb individual performances, this really was a magnificent team effort, particularly in that amazing first half. It was a stark contrast to the error-riddled Hawks.
Hawthorn at least responded in the second to stem Port's scoring flow, but of course the severe damage had already taken its toll. The Hawks kicked 3.1 to 1.7 in the third quarter, and their defensive pressure lifted considerably. Conversely, Port remained relentless with their attack on the ball. But, of course, the history books will only ever show Hawthorn's unforgivable first half.
The focus is now on just how good Port are. They are alongside the host of contenders for a top-four spot, and theoretically have a dream draw, playing just four of the current top-eight sides in their remaining 12 games in the run home to the finals.
But what of the Hawks? Remarkably, they're only two wins out of the top eight, but on this performance they're only a shadow of that team 606 days ago.