A BIG-HEARTED performance reaped a remarkable victory for Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Friday night that consigned Hawthorn to their biggest loss for season 2015.

And All-Australian selectors will be hard-pressed to ignore Chad Wingard for his second selection in football's best team after he booted an unbeaten four goals in a starring performance.

MVP: Vote for your best 

They'll also struggle to overlook Robbie Gray, who was again Port's best midfielder with 34 disposals, half of which were contested ball wins, seven clearances and four goal assists.

A fascinating and at times spiteful clash under the roof saw the Power lead the majority of the evening in front of a crowd just shy of 30,000.

Hawthorn never let the visitors get too far off the leash, and closed to within one behind at three-quarter time after Paul Puopolo kicked truly on the siren. 

But Port Adelaide's first appearance in front of a Melbourne crowd in Friday night football since 2005 was an enjoyable night out for the vocal showing of Power supporters at the ground. 

It's Port Adelaide's 10th win of the year, and fourth from the last five games, though the Power's early-year inconsistency will likely see them miss finals.

The even spread of contributors and continued form of 2015 debutant Brendon Ah Chee and upgraded rookie Sam Gray shows the season has plenty left to offer the Alberton crowd as they look towards upcoming clashes against Gold Coast and Fremantle in the next fortnight.

The Power will return to Adelaide on Saturday morning in time for the club's SANFL team hosting South Adelaide at Alberton in an important encounter.

TALKING POINTS: Plenty to come out of the game

MATCH REVIEW

FIRST QUARTER

Both sides went point-for-point and then goal-for-goal early in the game, with Monfries marking strongly in the opening minutes of the game, before Liam Shiels got one off the back of Adelaide-born teammate Ryan Schoenmakers placing a strong smother as the Power tried to clear from the backlines.

Port Adelaide controlled the ball with strength and ambition early, with twice as much possession and as many inside-50s by the halfway point of the quarter. 

It then took a strong sequence of handballs along the defensive wing through Boak, Sam Gray, Ah Chee, O'Shea and Pittard to set up Krakouer in the middle of the ground to spear a pass to an unchecked Schulz directly in front; his ensuing kick putting the Power's second on the board. 

The mimicry continued as the Hawks got a run and worked the ball to Rioli for his first unmarked in attack, but the Power was able to regain control once again with ambitious long, driving kicks and ball movement. 

It started when Robbie Gray - already with six score involvements - won the ball at a stoppage in Port's forward pocket and to Monfries who converted his second running into open goal.

Unfortunately, despite the Power's fast-break football, it couldn't transfer its dominance to the scoreboard. Despite leading inside-50s 19-9, the Power only managed an eight-point lead until Robbie Gray again delivered the goods off a spillage to give Wingard his first of the night.

The Power led by 14 points at the quarter time break, but certainly had their chances to be further ahead.

Despite being a clear best-on-ground for the first term, misses to Robbie Gray could have had the Power 22 points ahead, instead of 14. 

Still, both Robbie and namesake Sam Gray were Port's most impacting midfielders in the first term, with 13 and 12 touches respectively, and Port was undeniably the team of the term.

 

SECOND QUARTER 

Jake Neade casually kicked a beauty. 

The Power's strong pressure right around the ground was the essence of its advantage. 

Harassing the Hawks time and again, tackle pressure around the ground and hunting in numbers, Port matched the home side at its own game and won key statistics - disposals, contested ball, tackles, inside-50s and clearances. 

When Hartlett booted his first - and the Power's sixth - things were starting to look concerning for the flag fancies; now, Port was converting its possession to scoreboard advantage. 

 

Doubles to Lewis and Roughead clawed the margin back to 11 points in the Power's favour, before Schulz booted his second when Brian Lake entered the protected area (that's Law 16.2.1) to force a 50-metre penalty from which the Power's key goal kicker obliged with a six-pointer.

Jack Gunston booted the last goal of the quarter to keep the Hawks in the game at the long break.

THIRD QUARTER

Port needed to start with a bang. 

So it did. 

While Monfries and Burgoyne traded early goals, it was Chad Wingard who brought the game to life with a double of his own, made all the more inspiring after having his head bumped into the behind post.

Bringing up his half-century for season 2015, his third goal confirmed both his claim to an inaugural leading goal kicker award for the Power, and his All-Australian credentials in a remarkably consistent year.

Wingard certainly let Hodge know what he thought after his starring moment... 

 

Despite Wingard's purple patch, the Hawks stemmed the tide of Port's momentum and booted three goals from four scoring shots. 

The Power felt the pressure, and coughed up possession through bad decision-making, only a steadier to Matt White ensured the damage didn't get out of control.

But late goals to Sucking - rewarded after a contentious score review that yielded an 'umpires call' decision - and an on-the-siren set shot to Paul Puopolo shaved the three-quarter time margin to a point.

FOURTH QUARTER

Nursing a narrow lead, Port Adelaide needed to ensure it started well, especially after the Hawks' momentum turn at the end of the third term.

First, Ken Hinkley executed his sub - John Butcher taken out of the game for the pace of Kane Mitchell.

Then, his players turned the screws, slowly.

Port had plenty of opportunity inside 50, but could only harvest two behinds in the opening five minutes. 

But the momentum - and the ball - was with the Power.

Goals to Schulz, Wingard and Neade turned a tiny lead into a sizeable 21-point buffer, and things were looking rosy when Ah Chee marked strongly in front of goals. 

If only he didn't dish to Monfries leading dangerously into the goal square....

The Hawks punished them on the rebound and eventually converted through Gunston, before the Power won a crucial rebound and fed the ball through Pittard to Wingard on top of the 50-metre line. 

Turning on his heel, Wingard spotted Ah Chee, who didn't make the mistake of handing the ball to Monfries and put the margin back out to 16 points - and reaching the bellweather century on Etihad Stadium.

To cap things off, Sam Gray booted the final goal of the cap to continue his incredible form since returning to the senior side four weeks ago. 

SCOREBOARD

PORT ADELAIDE                4.5         7.5         11.8         16.12          (108)
HAWTHORN                      2.3          5.6         11.7         13.8             (86)

PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU’S BEST
R. Gray, Wingard, S. Gray, Pittard, Hartlett, Boak, Ah Chee

GOALS
Wingard 4, Schulz, Monfries 3, Neade 2, Hartlett, White, Ah Chee, S. Gray

SUBSTITUTION
Kane Mitchell replaced John Butcher in the final quarter

CROWD
28,657 at Etihad Stadium