PORT ADELAIDE 4.5 7.5 11.8 16.12 (108) HAWTHORN 2.3 5.6 11.7 13.8 (86)
Goals: Port Adelaide: C Wingard 4, A Monfries 3, J Schulz 3, J Neade 2, B Ah Chee, H Hartlett, M White, S Gray. Hawthorn: J Gunston 3, C Rioli 2, J Roughead 2, M Suckling 2, J Lewis, L Shiels, P Puopolo, S Burgoyne.
Best: Port Adelaide: Wingard, R Gray, S Gray, Boak, Pittard, Ryder, Ebert, Krakouer. Hawthorn: Lewis, Smith, Gibson.
Umpires: Matt Stevic, Robert Findlay, Jordan Bannister.
Venue: Etihad Stadium.

Hawthorn's hopes of a top-two finish – and the resultant benefits  through the finals – have been dealt a crippling blow, and could be compounded by a controversial third-term incident involving skipper Luke Hodge.

The Hawks began the round in third spot, two points behind second-placed West Coast, but a shock 22-point loss to the Power on Friday night means they  now appear likely to miss out on the double chance, with two rounds remaining. The Eagles host the Western Bulldogs at Domain Stadium on Sunday.

Another concern will be how Hodge's clash with Chad Wingard is scrutinised by the match review panel on Monday.

As tension grew between Hodge and Port Adelaide, particularly with the chippy Angus Monfries, Hodge found himself involved in a potentially costly incident on the eve of the finals with Wingard.

In a confusing sequence, Hodge conceded a free kick for interference to Monfries at the top of the goal square. However, not all players had heard the whistle, and play briefly continued.

It was then that Hodge appeared to make high contact with a hip and shoulder into Wingard's head as the Port Adelaide marksman took control of the ball just as he crashed into the point post. Wingard's head looked to be sandwiched between the point post and Hodge's waist.

Wingard crashed to the turf and took some time to get back to his feet as Monfries goaled from the earlier free kick.

When Wingard responded with a goal of his own a minute later, he clearly expressed his displeasure with Hodge by confronting the hardnut leader. Adding to the worry for Hodge is that was he was suspended for three weeks for striking North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow earlier in the season.

The incident came in a frenetic third term when the Hawks rallied after a largely lacklustre first half when they were unable to handle the Power's running game, led by the robust Robbie Gray and Brad Ebert.

"We had to slow the ball down, we can't go quick all the time," Gray said, praising Wingard as a "freak".

Wingard, arguably the best small forward in the competition, was brilliant two with goals in the third term, finishing the night with four, while the Hawks built on the momentum they had generated late in the second term.

The lift in tempo served to inspire the Hawks, who responded with four straight goals – the last to Paul Puopolo just as the siren sounded – to drag his side within a point.

However, in a stirring final term, the Power – out of finals contention – handled the Hawks with unexpected composure. A controversial free kick for high contact against Josh Gibson handed Wingard a goal, while Brendon Ah Chee – having earlier made an embarrassing mistake by opting to handball when he had a set shot from about 20 metres from goal – sealed the result with a running goal. The Power's intent was obvious from the opening bounce – take the game on and attempt to unravel the Hawks' zone with a run-and-gun style.

Adopting a method Richmond successfully used recently, the Power made the Hawks' defenders work laterally and feverishly when they didn't have the ball – and  Gray was central to this. The robust midfielder had 13 disposals in the first term, and was allowed to do as he pleased as the likes of Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis opted to not individually challenge him. Gray was superb, assisting in goals to Monfries and Wingard, and he should have had two of his own had he converted set shots.

The Power also embraced an interesting tactic – when kicking out from goal, they would flood the one side and aim in that region. By doing this, they would be assured of numbers, and would back their midfielders to break away using their leg speed. They would have double the Hawks' disposals in the opening 10 minutes, and boast control by quarter-time. This dominance was shown in a 20-9 inside-50 count.

Could an upset be on the cards? That proved to be the case.