'This is unacceptable': Historic Hawks horror show amid Port star's ...
Port Adelaide has demolished a hapless Hawks outfit by 55 points, with the match essentially over after the Power recorded their highest first half score in club history.
A “shell-shocked” Hawthorn conceded the first six goals of the game, and looked well off the pace before Port Adelaide marched to a 23.13 (151) to 14.12 (96) win.
The records tumbled in an opening half Power blitz, when Port scored the highest first quarter of any team this season.
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Jeremy Finlayson had a four-goal opening term to set up his side - he added a career-best equalling fifth goal in the second term as the Power hit the century mark for the first time in club history in the opening half.
Todd Marshall also finished with five goals while Junior Rioli had four to his name in a remarkable display.
While Hawthorn managed to find some fight in the second half, the match was already essentially over.
In a rare highlight for the Hawks, Luke Breust kicked his 500th goal in the AFL as every teammate got around him at Adelaide Oval.
The win sees Port’s percentage jump from 111.8% to 116.2%.
QUARTER BY QUARTER MATCH REPORT
It took less than 30 seconds for Jeremy Finlayson to get Port on the board first.
And the pain didn’t stop there for Hawthorn in the opening term.
When he wore a shot across the nose, Finlayson went back and slotted his second to give the home side an early advantage.
Finlayson’s fast start forced Hawks coach Sam Mitchell to shuffle his backline, with Josh Weddle moved off and Jack Scrimshaw given the job.
Todd Marshall took a great grab in his first game back from concussion, but his set shot cannoned into the post - the second for the Power in the opening term.
When Ollie Wines and Junior Rioli both snapped brilliant goals, “alarm bells” were ringing for the Hawks.
Fox Footy’s David King accused the Hawks of being “half a step off” as the Power cashed in.
They had six goals on the board before Hawthorn could even get into the contest.
Their only highlight for the opening term was Luke Breust bringing up goal 500 - admittedly on his third shot for the day.
But down the other end it was Finlayson putting Hawthorn to the sword with his third goal for the term.
When Marshall converted, it was eight goals from just 20 entries in a remarkable efficiency rate.
By quarter time, the Power had posted their highest score of any quarter this season, as they led 57 to 17.
Unfortunately for the Hawks, the pain continued in the second term.
Marshall kicked two quick goals, while Finlayson added a fifth to equal his career best - all before half time.
The Hawks sent a spare behind the ball as they stared down a 50-point plus deficit.
But it mattered little as the Power ran riot.
The home side cracked the century mark before the main break, with the highest first half score in the AFL since 2012.
By half time, it was 105-23.
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell conceded his side was off the pace when speaking to Fox Footy at half time, and said they subbed off Lloyd Meek in a bid to get some run into the game.
“We’ve been very ordinary but they’ve been very good,” he said.
“Hopefully we show something in the second half.
“We made the sub – we looked like we had no run in the game at all.”
And it was Hawthorn with the immediate response as Mitch Lewis got on the board.
Lewis added a second as the Hawks finally found some fight.
Down the other end, it was Rioli kicking away as he added another two goals to his tally.
Remarkably, the two sides finished even in the third term as they both kicked 5.3.
“They’ve answered the challenge from the coach at half time,” King praised.
“They’ve fought hard to wrestle this back.”
By the final change, Port held a 138-56 lead.
The Hawks’ effort rolled on in the final term with a six goal to two last quarter.
Commentator Leigh Montagna said it was clear Hawthorn’s offence wasn’t the issue against the Power, with their forwards converting opportunities in the second half.
By full time, the Hawks had something to take away from the game as they finished with 11 second half goals.
THE 3-2-1... (with Jonothan Baruch)
3. ‘PURE’ PORT PUT ‘HAPLESS’ HAWKS TO SWORD IN HORROR START
It was an absolute horror show first half for Hawthorn against Port Adelaide as the side simply never got out of the blocks.
Simple errors were punished by the “powerful” Port Adelaide, led by Jeremy Finlayson who slotted four first quarter goals.
Fox Footy’s David King said it was clear there were “alarm bells ringing everywhere” in the opening minutes.
He highlighted a moment where Josh Weddle couldn’t clear in defence, and another were Sam Frost just failed to opt to spoil.
“It’s a no fumble league,” he said.
“Weddle has a chance to clean this up. He plays for the free kick instead of distributing the ball immediately.
“They would have been safe. They would have been OK, the numbers were arriving.
“They just looking a fraction off.
“They don’t look as invested in this first quarter and Port Adelaide do right now.
“It’s just not as instinctive for Hawthorn at the moment.
“There’s an easy spoil to be made by Frost here – but he doesn’t go. He doesn’t jump.
“Port Adelaide players are prepared to put their nose absolutely over the ball and Hawthorn don’t have that same investment.
“This is unacceptable.”
The Hawks conceded the opening six goals of the match – and nine goals in the Power’s biggest quarter this season.
Junior Rioli’s second goal was a moment King said the Hawks needed to learn from.
“The ball’s sitting on the ground – their ball winners have been hunting the ball tremendously for the last six to eight weeks,” he said.
“Weddle is shell shocked from what’s happened in the first quarter.
“Day doesn’t attack it. Hardwick second to move. Frost is a metre away – but really in no man’s land.
“The only one to go after it was Rioli and he was well rewarded.”
Mark Ricciuto said the Hawks would be “calling a timeout” if they could, such was the dominant start by Port Adelaide, while Mark Howard described the Power’s opening half as “showtime”.
“There’s nothing they can do at the moment Hawthorn,” Fox Footy’s Leigh Montagna lamented.
“I’m not sure what they can do to stop the onslaught.
“Port Adelaide are ruthless. They can sense the vulnerability.”
King said it was surprising to see such a belting so far into the season – given the Hawks have shown plenty in their back to back wins.
“There was always going to be days like this for the Hawks,” he said.
“There were going to be some beltings in their early days – we didn’t expect them at this point of the year. We thought they may have been earlier in the season.”
Port Adelaide ended up posting their best first half score in club history, eclipsing their previous record of 15.5 (95) from 2012.
2. ‘PORTRESS IS BACK’ IN POWER FIRST HALF PERCENTAGE BLITZ.
Port Adelaide’s opening half blitz prompted a cheeky question from Brownlow Medallist Mark Ricciuto if there was a “mercy rule” for the hapless Hawks.
By half time, the Power had an 82 point lead and had increased their percentage from 111.8% to 120.5%. Continuing their charge into the top two with a record breaking ninth consecutive win.
“This could make a massive difference in getting in the top four, possibly the top two and whether you get a home final or not or whether you have to travel to Brisbane or the MCG,” Brownlow Medallist Mark Ricciuto told Fox Footy.
Fox Footy’s David King added: “The gap between second and third on the table is huge. Home first final, win that and straight into a home prelim.
“The old Portress is back. It’s very difficult to go to Adelaide and defeat either of the South Australian teams.”
Jeremy Finlayson led the Power’s surge with a four-goal opening term, continuing his impressive start to the year. Finlayson (five goals), the returning Todd Marshall (five goals) and Junior Rioli (four goals) were the main destroyers for the Power.
But after kicking a handful for the first time as a Port Adelaide player and equalling his career best, Finlayson went through four different opponents in the opening half in what Fox Footy’s David King coined a “breakout game” in his new colours.
“He’s getting excited – This is a breakout game,” King said on Fox Footy.
“He’s had a fantastic year… we haven’t seen him do this as a permanent forward this season.”
“He’s had Frost, Weddle, Scrimshaw and now Blanck all in the first quarter,” Leigh Montagna added.
“They’ve tried everything.”
Hawthorn managed to peg the percentage deficit back courtesy of 11 second half goals, whittling the Power’s percentage down to 116.2% at the final siren.
1. ‘HALL OF FAME AS SOON AS HIS ELIGIBLE’ BREUST CELEBRATES 500TH GOAL MILESTONE
On a dark day for Hawthorn, there was time to celebrate and recognise one of their favourite sons as Luke Breust joined an elite club.
Sitting on 499 career goals entering the day, Breust gathered a handball received in the centre square before receiving the ball back from Tyler Brockman before set sailing from just inside 50 to register his 500th career goal in his 270th game.
“Small forward, big number! 500 goals for Lukey Breust,” Fox Footy commentator Mark Howard said.
“And the Hawks are around him,” he added as teammates came from all parts of Adelaide Oval to celebrate with the 32-year-old.
“What a special moment,” St Kilda Hall of Famer Leigh Montagna added.
“Every single one of his teammates are making their way over.”
Breust joined an elite club at Hawthorn with the milestone goal, becoming only the fourth player to play in three premierships and kick 500 goals for the club.
“Starvation corner it is sometimes playing as a small forward, but he has been so consistent,” Montagna said.
“He finds a way to contribute nearly every week. What a wonderful player he’s been. There’s a different role now as one of the few leaders in this footy club.
“That’s a special moment for him and his family.
“He’ll be in the Hall of Fame as soon as he’s eligible, this guy,” dual North Melbourne Premiership player David King added.
“He’s been an absolute ripper.”
Breust finished with five goals against the Power in an impressive display.
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