Veteran Shaun Burgoyne turned it on in Sir Doug Nicholls Round to lead Hawthorn to a thrilling three-point win over Port Adelaide in Tasmania on Saturday.
The 35-year-old had an eventful day at UTas Stadium, kicking a goal and gathering 26 possessions in his team’s 9.10 (64) to 9.7 (61) victory, while also being reported during the first quarter.
Burgoyne was reported for rough conduct after attempting to tackle Port’s Jared Polec on the ground but appeared to collect him high.
Port Adelaide, fresh off a bye after playing in China, burst out of the blocks to lead by four goals at the first break but it was all Hawthorn from there.
The Hawks piled on four goals in the second term to draw level at half-time and edged ahead by seven points at the last change. The Power kept coming, however, on the back of Robbie Gray's four goals but it wasn't to be.
The win breaks a run of three straight losses for the Hawks and draws them level with a host of teams, including Port Adelaide, on 24 points on the ladder.
More to come
HAWTHORN 1.2 5.3 7.7 9.10 (64)
PORT ADELAIDE 5.2 5.3 6.6 9.7 (61)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Mitchell 2, McEvoy 2, Impey, Burgoyne, Puopolo, Breust, Roughead
Port Adelaide: Gray 4, Watts 3, Westhoff, Dixon
BEST
Hawthorn: Burgoyne, Gunston, Mitchell, Shiels, Sicily
Port Adelaide: Westhoff, Ryder, Gray, Jonas, Motlop
INJURIES
Hawthorn: To come
Port Adelaide: To come
Reports: Shaun Burgoyne (Haw) for rough conduct against Jared Polec (Port) during the first quarter
Umpires: Gavine, Nicholls, Hosking
Official crowd: 13,007 at University of Tasmania Stadium