The changes
B: Bonner, Jonas, Houston
HB: Byrne-Jones, Hombsch, Clurey
C: Motlop, Wines, Polec
HF: Boak, Westhoff, Wingard
F: S.Gray, Dixon, R.Gray
FOLL: Ryder, Rockliff, Ebert
I/C: Howard, Neade, Powell-Pepper, Watts
EMG: Amon, Pittard, Hewett, Thomas
Unchanged
Read: Hawks make two changes for Round 11
What to expect
Having had a week off in Round 10 following their trip to Shanghai the week previous, Port Adelaide will be re-energised to take on the second half of the year.
That season re-boot starts with their match-up against Hawthorn this Saturday.
The Power currently sit outside the top eight because of percentage but a win this weekend would see them right back in the race for a top four spot, having played a game less than most other finals candidates.
Port’s strength is in their midfield, where the big-bodied likes of Ollie Wines and Brad Ebert combine with the class of Robbie Gray.
They rank first in the competition for clearances, averaging 41.3 per game, led by Wines, the competition’s sixth-best clearance player, who averages 6.9 per game.
They’re also the second-best tackling side, highlighting their effort on both sides of the ball.
In their three losses in 2018, Port have lost the contested possession count each time and the tackling and clearance tallies two out of three occasions.
This means that when teams have beaten Ken Hinkley’s side, they have beaten them at their own game: winning the battle inside the contest.
This weekend, the Hawks must be willing to do the same.
Players to watch
As mentioned, Ollie Wines is one of his club’s most important players.
Weighing in at 97kg, Wines is one of the stronger-bodied midfielders in the competition.
Just under half of his 26.4 disposals per game this year have been contested, while his aforementioned clearance numbers are also a career-high.
At the age of 31 years old, Justin Westhoff is arguably having the best season of his 12-year career.
Westhoff is averaging more disposals, tackles, clearances, hit-outs and contested possessions than ever before in his previous 11 seasons.
The 200cm utility is a difficult match-up given his combination of height and mobility and the Hawks will be wanting to ensure his influene is limited on Saturday afternoon.
