LIVE AFL: Tempers spill over as 'dangerous' Hawks off to hot start

Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) will try and build off its stunning Cats upset when it hosts Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval.

The Power (6-3, 112.2%) got back on the winners list with that victory at GMHBA Stadium. Ken Hinkley’s side has made one change, with Jase Burgoyne replacing Francis Evans, while star skipper Connor Rozee remains sidelined with a hamstring issue.

The Hawks (3-6, 76.6%) have been in much better form in recent times including upset wins over the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda over the last fortnight. Ethan Phillips comes in for his AFL debut alongside the returning Mabior Chol and Changkuoth Jiath.

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Port Adelaide is known as Yartapuulti this weekend, which comes from the Kaurna language meaning the land surrounding the Port River.

The game gets underway at 3:20pm AEST from Adelaide Oval.

Watch it live on Fox Sports 503, streaming on Kayo or via Hubbl, from 3pm AEST, plus on Fox Footy (channel 504) from 4pm AEST.

There were no late changes, with Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (Port Adelaide) and Luke Breust (Hawthorn) named the starting subs.

QUARTER BY QUARTER MATCH REPORT

Hawthorn were off to a red hot start with the first six goals of the contest.

But it was the Hawks intensity that really impressed as the visitors refused to take a backwards step - as a push and shove broke out early with Hawk Jack Ginnivan losing his headband in the process.

Cam Mackenzie got Hawthorn the first goal of the contest before Blake Hardwick set the contest on fire.

Hardwick had four opening quarter goals - equalling his career best tally in less than 30 minutes, as the visitors landed the first six goals.

Yartapuulti players were accused of “switching off” and “ball watching” in the first term - going inside 50 just twice in the first 25 minutes as the Hawks dominated around the ground.

Aside from one lapse that opened the door for Jason Horne-Francis to snap the home side’s first goal, the Hawks owned the match to lead 38 to 7.

“Kenny would be going right off his head at quarter time as they probably deserve after their start at home,” Fox Footy’s Ben Dixon said at the first break.

The match soured further for Yartapuulti when Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines failed to return to the field due to heart palpitations - and was subbed out of the match.

It’s not the first time Wines has dealt with the heart issue after coming from the field back in 2022.

“I think the players know if they go into that irregular heartbeat,” commentator Mark Soderstrom said.

“(Wines) can actually feel that right now and I think that’s what they are dealing with.”

Already without Connor Rozee, it was just another blow for the Yartapuulti midfield that was struggling against the Hawks.

By half time, it was Hawthorn still leading by 22 points.

Will Day booted the first goal of the second half to extend Hawthorn’s lead, but Dan Houston responded with a long-range bomb.

Zak Butters and Willem Drew could have cases to answer for from the MRO – Butters for making high contact with Lloyd Meek and Drew for a dangerous tackle on Nai Newcombe.

Jack Ginnivan nailed a goal – and celebrated like only Ginnivan can – before Hardwick booted his fifth goal to open up a 37-point Hawthorn lead.

Channel 7 caller Brian Taylor noted the Hawks ad adjusted to the wet conditions at Adellaide Oval better than the home side.

Port kicked the last two goals of the term to regain some momentum, but still trailed, 12.6 (78) to 7.8 (50) at the last change.

The Hawks activated their sub at three-quarter time, with Changkuoth Jiath off for Luke Breust (tactical).

It was a real arm wrestle in the last quarter as Hawthorn played a conservative brand and was happy to lock the game down.

Willie Rioli kicked the first goal of the last term to get Port within four goals and a sniff of a comeback.

The Power had several more chances to kick a goal but squandered them until Darcy Byrne-Jones got a free kick in front of goal and put it through to make it a 12-point game.

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