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HAWTHORN has steamrolled Port Adelaide by 72 points at Aurora Stadium to solidify its place in the top four, but not before something of a scare.

The Power, under interim coach Garry Hocking for the first time, led early and then fought back after a big Hawthorn second quarter to get within 17 points early in the final term.

But the Hawks stormed home with 11 last-quarter goals to win 24.14 (153) to 13.9 (87).

And that without Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead, and with Cyril Rioli substituted at half-time.

Port Adelaide, as often happens when a new coach is in charge, began the game with real intent, and got out to a 21-point lead in the first term that would have been even greater if not for poor kicking for goal.

But the Hawks regathered their commitment at the break and an eight-goal second quarter turned the match on its head. They too had issues with getting on target - their half-time tally of 9.9 included four posters.

Port trimmed the 26-point margin at the main break to 21 points at the final change after five goals in the third quarter, and then got the first of the last term, but Hawthorn proved too strong.

On an eventful afternoon for Rioli, the small forward was subbed out of the match at half-time with what appeared to be an injury to his left shoulder.

He had already been helped from the field once after copping a low blow off the ball that sparked a fracas involving at least a dozen players at quarter-time.

He returned to kick the first of Hawthorn's eight second-quarter goals 18 seconds into the term but was gone again with the shoulder problem before the long break.

Port showed plenty of the 'non-negotiables' Hocking had asked for when he took over from the dumped Matthew Primus last week, but the Hawks had too much class.

For the Hawks, Paul Puopolo kicked five, David Hale four and Luke Breust three, while Jay Schulz booted four and Brett Ebert two for Port Adelaide.

Down by 13 points after the first quarter, Hawthorn stepped on the accelerator in the second, kicking eight goals to two in the term, including two in as many minutes to Isaac Smith.

The Power gave themselves some hope with majors to Schulz and Travis Boak but trailed by 26 points at the long break.

Port had signalled they were determined to restore some pride with the first two goals of the match through Matthew Broadbent and Ebert.

It took the Hawks 15 minutes to get on the board, through a behind to Brendan Whitecross, and they scored their first goal through youngster Jack Gunston on the 20-minute mark.

HAWTHORN     1.3     9.9     13.12     24.15 (159)
PORT ADELAIDE     3.4     5.7     10.9     13.9 (87)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Puopolo 5, Hale 4, Breust 3, Ellis 2, Smith 2, Guerra, Lewis, Hodge, Suckling, Gilham, Young, Rioli, Gunston
Port Adelaide: Schulz 4, Brett Ebert 2, Lobbe, Stewart, Broadbent 2, Brad Ebert, Boak, Westhoff

BEST
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Puopolo, Lewis, Sewell, Hale
Port Adelaide: Pearce, Boak, Ebert, Schulz, Cornes

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Rioli (shoulder), Gibson (ankle)
Port Adelaide: TBC

SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Cyril Rioli replaced by Matthew Suckling at half-time
Port Adelaide: Andrew Moore replaced by John McCarthy in the third quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Armstrong, Mitchell, Bannister

Official crowd: 14,431 at Aurora Stadium

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.