Live: Howling winds cause havoc as Hawks and Power take rivalry to Tassie

One down, four to go for Port.

Conditions haven’t suited him, but Georgiades hasn’t been a factor at all today. His hasty snap from a forward 50 stoppage bounced through this time though, his first goal since the opening minute of the game.

Hawthorn might be about to run up the margin now because teh Power are out on their feet.

A poor clearing kick came back and sat up nicely for Impey poke a toe at. It trickles through, he lets out a little “siuuu” celebration and Sam Mitchell starts to feel a little better about life.

What a goal, and what a celebration! The sub has come off the bench, split through the pack with clean hands and a burst of speed to snap an incredible goal.

And now he’s off on his victory lap! A fair old celebration from the young man, who may have just officially ended Port Adelaide’s 2025 season.

Gunston had just dribbled one through from the front row, while falling over, and for a second thought he had wrapped up the goal of the year.

But a score review showed a fingernail in the ball JUST before it crossed the line. Behind of the year, perhaps. And a handy point too, in the circumstances.

Hawthorn’s 12-point lead has held, and Port haven’t really threatened any inroads.

The conditions remain awful and fatigue is really setting in now. Not making for much of a spectacle, but it’s still willing out there.

As the siren blows, both Nick Watson and James Sicily are in passionate discussions with various umpires, voicing their disagreement at perceived wrongdoings. Not going to help much during the three-quarter-time break, but still.

That looks like being a costly quarter for Port Adelaide because it is hard to see them overturning a two-goal deficit into the wind. The Hawks have been cleaner, quicker and have stuck tackles more often which, in these conditions, all adds up to a winning performance.

These are pivotal moments for Hawthorn, who has stolen a march against the wind and suddenly looks a chance of blowing Port Adelaide away.

It is seriously raining again now, and all day the Hawks have been the cleaner and more dangerous at ground level. That is starting to tell, with that goal coming from a stoppage on the wing. Gunston had the whole forward 50 to himself and took his time before dribbling through.

How on earth do you kick an out-the-back goal into this wind? That’s a shocker for the Power to give up, and it all started from a poor kick inside 50 from Burgoyne. What should have been a chance for Port turned into a Hawthorn counter-attack.

Dear and Moore ended up out the back of the Port defence and walked it into goal. That could be a back-breaker for the Power.

A strong contested mark from Lord, who read the flight of that dipping ball better than anyone else. And then the set shot from a tricky angle was really tidy, using the breeze to work it back perfectly.

Port are making their move now.

Nick Riewoldt, Jono Brown eat your heart out! Coming back with the flight, Butters has taken an incredibly brave mark at the tip of the attacking 50.

He cops a whack for his troubles but is able to take his kick. Unfortunately it slides through for a behind.

A long, long ball from Sweet sails through post high from well outside 50. Lovely finish. Again, the chance comes from a free kick for some very minor holding in a ruck contest.

Barrass and Lord are having a right crack at each other after the goal too, Barrass really not happy about something. Feels like the flashpoint in this game is still yet to come.

The rain has eased a little for the moment but the wind remains a big factor.

If the Power don’t cash in in this quarter, they stand little chance in the last. Season on the line right here, right now for Port.

Ahh yes, if the Power don’t win this their finals hopes are dead. Same for Sydney later on today.

And even if they do win, A LOT would have to go right between now and September for either the Power or Swans to feature. It’s basically a race between nine now, with the Bulldogs currently the team on the outside looking in.

Geez this is tough going for those players. The rain and wind is making this an all-out scrap, and the Power were unable to get the ball past the halfway line for the vast majority of that term.

The Hawks did a better job of putting the wind on the scoreboard in that quarter, but a 13-point lead isn’t massive given they went in level at the first turn. Port struggled to get any run out of defence though, which is where the Hawks were able to get some joy in the first term – long kicks into that wind are not the answer.

Port Adelaide simply must throw its best punch in the third quarter.

That is sensational from Gunston! A set shot from deep in the pocket, right up against the line, that he has set up against the breeze and worked back perfectly.

It’s come though from an outrageous insufficient intent call against Jase Burgoyne. That’s four of Hawthorn’s six goals coming directly from free kicks. Ken Hinkley is steaming.

The Wizard got low, drew the tackle from Jones and shrugged it up with his arm so it went over his shoulder. The umpire swiftly blew the whistle and the Hawks have another.

Lack of discipline hurting the Power, the Hawks are benefitting from a lot of free kicks.

It’s just been a slugfest for about 10 minutes with the ball living in Hawthorn’s attacking half. Finally though they were able to chain some clever kicks into space on the opposite wing, at which point Gunston timed his lead for Moore’s pass perfectly.

With the breeze behind him, Gunston’s kick never looked like missing.

Another goal against the wind. Maybe the wind is so strong that there isn’t a clear advantage either way? Probably not, but there has to be some explanation.

It does seem that the forwards are enjoying the ball falling short rather than going out the back. Lukosius read that well to get out in front and mark before converting smartly for his second.

The video above gives you some idea of the conditions the players are dealing with here. It’s making for a farcical game at times, and an untidy one throughout.

In saying that, the Hawks will be delighted. Kicking into a howling wind they somehow are going into the first change all square and have looked the better side. They’re looking sharper and cleaner at ground level, and defensively did a very good job to hold Port out for most of that quarter.

Let’s see if they can cash in on the wind in the second.