Round 3
	V
Port Adelaide 19.14 (128)		Hawthorn 11.5 (71)

Port Adelaide has broken through for its first win of the season with a 57-point win over Hawthorn at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night. The Hawks failed to capitalise on first use of a stiff breeze and the Power made them pay with a second-quarter blitz that set up its 19.14 (128) to 11.5 (71) victory.

Nick Stevens was the standout for the Power, collecting 27 damaging possessions and leading a dominant midfield brigade from the front.

Kicking with the aid of the wind, Hawthorn had the Power on the back foot early with Kris Barlow kicking the first of his three goals for the term in the first minute of play.

However, Port soon worked into the game with Power on-baller Nick Stevens providing the midfield spark with 10 possessions and Shaun Burgoyne contributing the inspiration in attack with three majors of his own.

By the latter stages of the quarter Port Adelaide had established control of the midfield and went into the first break with a well-deserved 15-point lead.

A miraculous goal by Chad Cornes early in the second term sparked a rampage by the Power who used the breeze to perfection to outscore the hapless Hawks 50 points to one.

Josh Carr, Matthew Primus and Roger James combined with the prolific Stevens to dominate the midfield and pump the ball repeatedly into their 50-metre arc where Burgoyne continued his spectacular form to finish the half with five majors.

The Hawks simply had no answer to the pace and quick ball movement of the Power and found themselves a whopping 64 points in arrears at half-time.

With a mountain to climb in the second half the Hawks set about their task with renewed vigour. Ben Dixon was moved from defense to attack to provide a marking target and rewarded his coach by kicking two goals.

Hawthorn’s run of four consecutive goals was snapped when Jarrad Schofield slotted home his third and any faint hope of a Hawk comeback was snuffed out when Byron Pickett somehow managed a goal lying flat on his back from 20 metres out.

The Power led by 56 points as the heavens opened over AAMI Stadium at three-quarter time.

The wet and slippery conditions affected the skill level of both sides in the final term with neither side able to make much impression on the scoreboard.

Power coach Mark Williams will have some cause for concern with captain Matthew Primus limping from the ground midway through the third quarter.

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