Billed as a grudge match, the game was set up to be a clash between the title favourites and a struggling side long thought past its prime. But from the outset, it was anything but a contest. For over an hour, Port Adelaide ran rampant while Hawthorn could barely respond. The Power burst out of the gates in full attack mode, overwhelming the Hawks in a display few predicted. By early in the second quarter, with the rain pouring down, the game seemed completely out of reach. At one point, Port led by a staggering 71 points. Hawthorn captain James Sicily summed up their plight bluntly at halftime, saying on Channel 7, “We need to pull our head out of our arses.” To their credit, the Hawks did mount a spirited response, and in the final term, there was a fleeting moment where the greatest comeback in AFL history seemed possible. But that dream ended when Willie Rioli responded to a hit from Changkuoth Jiath by kicking the ball deep into the Barossa. The Power sealed the win, 18.13 (121) to 14.7 (91).
Port Adelaide desperately needed a performance like this. Their season had started with a whimper—flat against Essendon on a ground where they usually thrive, and comfortably beaten by St Kilda, a team they’ve historically dominated. This showing begged the question: where had this fire been hiding? Sunday night was a powerful reminder of what this team can do when they’re written off, when emotion is high, and when their midfield is switched on. Port thrives on momentum, thrives on pressure, and feeds off their crowd. When all those factors align, they’re nearly impossible to stop.
Leadership played a vital role in this resurgence. Connor Rozee, often burdened by the captaincy this year, found his spark after being moved to half-back. He was involved early, racking up possessions and slicing through the field with renewed confidence. Jason Horne-Francis, frustrated through the early season, roared to life like a raging bull—dominant in the air and on the ground. Zak Butters, ever energetic and aggravating for opponents, was back to his darting best. His intensity and urgency, the very traits Port had been lacking, were on full display—just as they had been in last year’s dramatic win where he turned the tide in the final quarter.
The hype around this match, part of the AFL’s Gather Round, came with a dose of irony. While the league fines players for minor gestures or misconduct, it doesn’t hesitate to promote those same rivalries to sell tickets and boost ratings. The AFL wears many hats—regulator, moral enforcer, and marketer—and in this case, maybe Ken Hinkley deserved a share of the gate for the spectacle his side delivered. The entire weekend had a festival feel, especially after a $60,000 bottle of Penfolds was shared at a government-hosted dinner for media. Praise for the event poured in—from the AFL, from South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, and from broadcasters like Eddie McGuire, who dubbed it Australia’s answer to the Super Bowl.
In fairness, Adelaide proved to be the perfect city for such a football showcase. The quality of games across the weekend was high. At Norwood Oval, Brisbane stormed back from a large deficit to overpower the Western Bulldogs. The Lions have made a habit of starting slow this season, but when their midfield clicks, they become formidable. Similarly, on opening night, Adelaide’s Crows had the early upper hand, but teams like Brisbane and Geelong know how to adapt under pressure. They remain composed, wait for their moment, and strike hard—especially when trailing by several goals. As Hawthorn learned the hard way, falling behind by 71 points is less a challenge and more a sentence—you’re simply trying to dig yourself out while the avalanche keeps coming.
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