PORT Adelaide has dealt Hawthorn's top-two ambitions a blow by claiming a 22-point victory at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
Chad Wingard snared four match-defining goals, taking his season tally past the half-century milestone for the first time, as he combined with Robbie Gray and namesake Sam Gray to power Port to its second win over the Hawks this season.
The Power watched their hard-fought 11-point half-time lead whittled away to a solitary point at the final change, but stemmed the oncoming Hawks tide in the final term to run out with a deserved away triumph.
Brendon Ah Chee went from zero to hero in the frantic dying stages, making amends for an inexplicable handball to a one-on-one contest in the goalsquare when he could have had a set shot by slotting a steadying running goal minutes later.
The loss – only Hawthorn's second from the past 12 games – makes their equation for a three-peat potentially much more difficult, with at least one looming trip to Perth during finals.
The Hawks remain in third spot, and could slip six points behind the Eagles in second spot after this weekend with two games to play.
West Coast plays the Western Bulldogs at Domain Stadium on Sunday.
As good as the Power's 10th win for 2015 was, it will serve as more frustration for their legion of fans after a season that promised so much for last year's preliminary finalists.
After a similarly underwhelming year, Paddy Ryder again showed his best form in the absence of Matthew Lobbe, with his athleticism too much for Ben McEvoy to handle without David Hale by his side.
Hale (general soreness) was pulled pre-game, with the Hawks bringing in another runner in Taylor Duryea to combat the Power's pace.
Alastair Clarkson had good reason to be wary, with the visitors' run and gun style immediately forcing the Hawks on the back foot.
The Power dominated the opening exchanges, with the Gray boys running rampant.
Robbie had 13 possessions for the first term, but wasted two gilt-edged opportunities in front of goal, while Sam bobbed up with 12 touches as the Power raced to a 14-point lead at quarter time.
Port engineered their overwhelming inside 50 count (20-9) by risking moving the ball through the centre corridor, but the Hawks tightened up after the first break as the match turned into an arm-wrestle.
When Hamish Hartlett snapped truly, the Power had chiseled a game-high 24-point lead midway through the second term.
Remarkably, the reigning premiers, ranked first for scoring and disposals this season, went goalless for more than half an hour, and were overwhelmingly outpossessed (minus-58) to half time.
Usual suspects Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell and Isaac Smith willed themselves into the contest, as tagger Liam Shiels handcuffed Robbie Gray and the tide eventually began to turn brown and gold.
With more to play for, it seemed inevitable the Hawks would lift themselves to a crucial win, but Port held firm and was never headed as it notched a fourth win from its past five matches.
HAWTHORN 2.3 5.6 11.7 13.8 (86)
PORT ADELAIDE 4.5 7.5 11.8 16.12 (108)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Gunston 3, Roughead 2, Suckling 2, Rioli 2, Shiels, Lewis, Burgoyne, Puopolo
Port Adelaide: Wingard 4, Monfries 3, Schulz 3, Neade 2, Hartlett, White, Ah Chee, S. Gray
BEST
Hawthorn: Gibson, Lewis, Burgoyne, Smith, Mitchell, Gunston
Port Adelaide: R. Gray, Ryder, Wingard, S.Gray, Westhoff, Pittard, Hombsch
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Hale (general soreness) replaced in selected side by Duryea
Port Adelaide: TBC
SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Brian Lake replaced by Billy Hartung in the third quarter
Port Adelaide: John Butcher replaced by Kane Mitchell in the final quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Bannister, Stevic, Findlay
