Slow starts are hurting the side:

As was the case in Round 7 against Collingwood, Port Adelaide didn’t manage a goal in the first quarter against Hawthorn at University of Tasmania Stadium.

The Hawks led the contest 4.1 - 0.0 at the first break, and it was always going to be an uphill battle for the Power from that point on.

Port had more disposals, contested possessions and clearances but couldn’t convert that into enough scoreboard pressure.

First career goals are always special:

Peter Ladhams kicked his first AFL goal to reduce the margin to 24 points with 7.24 left on the clock in the final term.

Every player on the ground got to Ladhams to congratulate him.

Despite the final result, it was a nice moment for the big ruckman.



Broadbent and Byrne-Jones a shining light in defence:

Matthew Broadbent had his best game for the Power since his return to the senior side, while Darcy Byrne-Jones is arguably putting together his best season to date.

They both had 28 disposals in Port’s disappointing 31-point loss to Hawthorn in Launceston on Saturday afternoon.

Byrne-Jones is averaging 21 touches a game in 2019, up from his career average of 17. He is also averaging more marks and tackles per game this season.

Despite the small sample size so far, Broadbent is averaging 24 disposals a game, up from his career-average of 17.

The 28-year-old had 22 touches in each of his first two games back in the side, against Adelaide and Gold Coast, before his season-high 28 touches against the Hawks.