Hawthorn have exacted some belated payback on Port Adelaide with a slogging 38-point win to revive their top-four hopes.
The Hawks booted five goals to one in the last term in a 13.9 (87) to 7.7 (49) victory in atrocious conditions at Launceston’s UTAS Stadium.
Hawthorn antagonist Jack Ginnivan iced the win in near-freezing conditions with the last goal of the game – and then made an aeroplane motion with his arms.
The celebration followed Power coach Ken Hinkley being fined $20,000 for a similar reaction, plus verbal taunting, of Ginnivan and Hawk players after they lost last year’s semi-final.
“Payback is deserved,” Hinkley said.
“I have no problems with it and I am OK with it, I think it’s good for the game, the theatre of the game.
“And good on Jack … and Hawthorn themselves as a club. I won’t be one that sits here and does anything but acknowledge that it was my turn today.”
Hawk coach Sam Mitchell could also see the lighter side of the exchange.
“That is what you’re going to get from Jack,” he said.
“The banter between the clubs made a little bit more interest in the game.
“We finish the year one (win) each … but it’s good to get one back against Port because they have obviously caused us some pain and trauma, and all the Hawks fans some pain and trauma, over the last 12 months.”
Hawk veterans Jack Gunston and Jarman Impey kicked three goals each in a win that lifts their club to fourth ahead of other results.
And their teammate Dylan Moore was best-afield with 32 disposals, two goals and nine tackles.
The 11th-placed Power slipped from finals contention in Hinkley’s 13th and final season as coach before handing over to assistant Josh Carr.
Mitchell said the Hawks set up the win with their strong first quarter into a gale – after a feisty start, scores were locked at 3.2 apiece at the first break.
Hawthorn booted three goals to one in a rain-soaked second stanza, with Gunston scoring two, including a stunning 30m set shot from a boundary line.
That strike gave the Hawks a handy 13-point halftime buffer.
And despite kicking into the wind in the third, Hawthorn again held sway to lead by 13 points at three-quarter time.
The Hawks then swept with the wind to a victory as on-ballers James Worpel (26 disposals) and Josh Ward (26), Impey (26) and utility Blake Hardwick (27) revelled on the heavy track.
Port’s Jack Lukosius and Mitch Georgiades scored two goals each, while winger Jase Burgoyne (26 touches) and half-back Kane Farrell (25) were busy.
© AAP
