Power can't dam Franklin

Hawthorn has fought back from as much as 38 points down to overrun Port Adelaide and keep its unbeaten record intact with a clinical 17.15 (117) to 15.12 (102) victory at Aurora Stadium in Launceston on Saturday.

The Hawks were staring down the barrel of their first defeat for the year when they trailed by more than six goals early in the second quarter before slamming on nine goals to four after the break to secure a 15-point win and remain level with Geelong at the top of the ladder.

Midfielders Jordan Lewis (36 possessions), Brad Sewell (34) and Chance Bateman (28) led the second-half revival with ruckman Robert Campbell giving them first use out of the middle with 18 hitouts.

Lance Franklin added to his goal-kicking tally with six goals - the fifth time this season he has recorded at least half-a-dozen in a game - while partner-in-crime Jarryd Roughead started slowly but finished with three.

Port Adelaide, which went into the match on the back of three consecutive victories after losing its first four of the year, took it right up to the 'home' team and threatened to again pull off a miraculous victory over the Hawks similar to the one last year, when it surged from 16 points down midway through the last quarter to win with a kick near the siren.

This time, however, it was not to be as they ran out of legs in the second half and the Hawks showed exactly why they are rated premiership favourites alongside the Cats.

Shaun Burgoyne was the best for the Power with 31 touches, while brother Peter gathered 24 and Kane Cornes racked up 29 disposals.

Skipper Warren Tredrea showed glimpses of his best with four goals in the first half, while Brett Ebert was also lively with three majors.

The Power shocked the Hawks early with seven goals to two in the first term to establish a 32-point break at the first change.

But the Hawks responded with six goals of their own in the second quarter, including the last three of the term, to draw within 17 points at half-time.

Port hit back with two of the first three goals of the third term before Hawthorn rallied once more.

With Sewell, Lewis and Sam Mitchell all getting telling touches, the Hawks slammed on six of the last seven goals of the quarter to take a seven-point lead into the final stanza.

Neither side could conjure a goal in the early stages of the final term before Mark Williams booted his one and only major with a minute remaining to seal the four points.

• HAWTHORN:* 2.2, 8.7, 15.9, 17.15 (117) *PORT ADELAIDE: * 7.4, 11.6, 14.8, 15.12 (102)

• GOALS: Hawthorn: * Franklin 6, Roughead 3, Sewell 2, Osborne 2, Rioli, McGlynn, Young, Williams *Port Adelaide: * Tredrea 4, Ebert 3, Gray 2, D Motlop 2, Rodan, S Burgoyne, Westhoff, Thomson *BEST: Hawthorn: * Lewis, Sewell, Campbell, Bateman, Franklin *Port Adelaide: * S Burgoyne, Pearce, K Cornes, P Burgoyne, Tredrea *INJURIES: Hawthorn: * Mitchell (concussion), Guerra (hamstring) *Port Adelaide: * K Cornes (cut eye) *REPORTS: * McGlynn reported for charging K Cornes *CHANGES: * Nil *UMPIRES: * Kennedy, Nicholls, Wenn *CROWD: * to come

Sportal AFL Player of the Year votes: 3. Jordan Lewis (Hawthorn) 2. Brad Sewell (Hawthorn) 1. Robert Campbell (Hawthorn)