Hawthorn Faces Anxiety Over Key Trio After Narrow Victory Against Port Adelaide

Hawthorn is bracing for the fallout from two incidents that will be reviewed following their nail-biting victory over Port Adelaide.

The match, played under the roof at Marvel Stadium, was a heart-stopper that went down to the final moments.

In a dramatic finale, Port Adelaide forward Mitch Georgiades had a critical set shot designed to tip the scales in their favour, but his attempt veered left, resulting in a loss of 13.11 (89) to 13.8 (86).

Although they narrowly clinched the win, two of Hawthorn’s leaders are likely to face a thorough investigation from the match review panel.

Both captain James Sicily and dynamic forward Dylan Moore were penalised for striking Port defender Logan Evans in the stomach during the encounter.

The AFL has enforced tough penalties on body contact this season, with most infractions leading to an automatic one-week suspension.

If this trend continues, Hawthorn will likely miss the veteran duo for their highly-anticipated Anzac Day match against Gold Coast in Tasmania.

Moore might have a case to plead, as it appears he struck Evans with an open hand rather than a clenched fist. Sicily also contested the umpire’s decision after the free kick, insisting that contact was made with Evans’ elbow, not his abdomen.

“Watching acts of indiscipline or petulance like that, especially from leaders, is incredibly frustrating,” remarked Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall on Fox Footy.

“Those players could be sidelined for a week for something relatively minor, and I wouldn’t begrudge that if it happens. They know the rules.”

Former West Coast coach Adam Simpson added, “That kind of behaviour is concerning, especially coming from your captain. Evans was the target both times. There may have been some provocation there.”

Additionally, concerns loom over star forward Nick Watson, who sustained a thumb injury late in the match. Fortunately, he managed to strap it up and returned to play.

Watson was pivotal in securing the victory for the Hawks, kicking five goals and reaffirming his status as a true match-winner.

He had similarly impactful performances in the club’s recent success against Geelong on Easter Monday, where he scored three crucial goals from limited chances.

Meanwhile, Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters put a tumultuous week behind him after being fined for abusing an umpire in the previous round, amassing 35 disposals and scoring a goal.

He was matched by his teammate, Jason Horne-Francis, who contributed 28 possessions and two goals.

For Hawthorn, Jai Newcombe stood tall with 24 disposals, while Karl Amon marked his 200th game with 17 touches.

Currently, Hawthorn sits second on the ladder, trailing Sydney only on percentage, with five wins from their first six matches. Meanwhile, Port Adelaide finds itself languishing in 11th place with just a pair of victories.