Match report: Power wins thriller to book preliminary final spot

4 days ago

Port Adelaide Football Club

PORT Adelaide has survived a late Hawthorn charge to secure one of the club's great finals wins, booking a preliminary final against Sydney at the SCG after winning a classic semi-final by three points on Friday night.

The Power stared down their critics after an 84-point beating a week earlier and lifted themselves off the canvas in a backs-to-the-wall triumph for coach Ken Hinkley, winning 11.9 (75) to 11.6 (72).

They held firm in some desperate final moments after Hawthorn skipper James Sicily hit the post with a long-range set shot that would have given his team a two-point lead, with Esava Ratugolea intercepting a final flurry forward from the Hawks.

It was a thrilling final from start to finish that came with a post-script as Power coach Hinkley and Sicily exchanged tense words after the siren as the teams lined up in a guard of honour for 300-gamer Luke Breust.

The win sends the Power into a fourth preliminary final under Hinkley, taking them one win away from a first-ever Grand Final under the coach, who would have faced intense pressure to retain his job if the Power had instead exited in straight sets.

The win also represents their first finals win against the Hawks, following losses in the preliminary final of 2014 and semi-final of 2001, which were both also decided by three points.

Port's win was built on pressure and a relentless commitment to the contest with effort after effort as their midfield stars stood up along young guns that announced themselves in a do-or-die final.

Jase Burgoyne (25 disposals and a goal) was outstanding in a half-back role alongside Logan Evans (22 and four rebound 50s), while Willie Rioli (15 and two goals) was electric in the front half.

Young key forward Mitch Georgiades kicked a team-high three goals, while Jason Horne-Francis was a constant threat bursting forward from stoppages until cramping in the fourth quarter and spending time forward.

Vice-captain Zak Butters delivered in a physical final after being substituted last week with bruised ribs, handling attention but also laying eight crunching tackles himself.

All eyes were on how the Power would start after a week of fierce criticism and they could hardly have responded better, bringing a ferocious approach to the contest and immediately putting the Hawks on the back foot.

Port dominated the early stoppages and laid a flurry of crunching tackles, with captain Connor Rozee setting an early benchmark when he combined with Willie Rioli to win a holding the ball free kick and kick the opening goal.

The Power tall forwards also looked threatening after a poor recent patch, and Rioli was involved again to set up Todd Marshall for the team's second goal as Port went to the first break with a 13-point lead after holding Hawthorn to its lowest first quarter score since round two.

Mitch Georgiades made that 19 points when Jason Horne-Francis found him on the lead, with the Power starting to capitalise on their territory dominance after some missed opportunities.

It was only a matter of time until Hawthorn had its turn with the momentum, however, and a pair of dubious dangerous tackle decisions gave them the chance to strike.

Mabior Chol and Dylan Moore were the players who benefited from the calls against Lachie Jones and Jase Burgoyne respectively, with a 50m penalty for dissent also taking Moore to the goal line to make certain of his opportunity and cutting the margin to four points.

The Power steadied to see out an exhilarating half with a nine-point buffer after Rioli kicked a goal out of mid-air with one second on the clock.

The third quarter belonged to the Hawks as they got their first lead for the game following back-to-back goals from young sensation Nick Watson, who finished with a team-high three majors.

Breust enjoyed his moment late in the quarter when he converted a set shot in his milestone game, cutting the margin to five points and setting up the thrilling final term.

Burgoyne and Horne-Francis both kicked crucial goals in the last quarter to hold off the Hawks' momentum, while Georgiades kicked a clutch set shot.

The Hawks will rue late misses when they were charging, but the Power's pressure late was as ferocious as it was early to make sure they secured a magnificent win.

PORT ADELAIDE 2.3 5.6 7.8 11.9 (75)

HAWTHORN 0.2 4.3 7.3 11.6 (72)

GOALS

Port Adelaide: Georgiades 3, Byrne-Jones 2, Rioli 2, Burgoyne, Horne-Francis, Marshall, Rozee

Hawthorn: Watson 3, Ginnivan 2, Breust, Chol, Dear, Maginness, Moore, Sicily

BEST

Port Adelaide: Burgoyne, Rioli, Horne-Francis, Georgiades, Jones, Evans, Zerk-Thatcher, Sweet

Hawthorn: Scrimshaw, Newcombe, Watson, Worpel, Sicily, Morrison

INJURIES

Port Adelaide: TBC

Hawthorn: TBC

LATE CHANGES