HAWTHORN attacking duo Jarryd Roughead and Jack Gunston kicked five goals each to help sink Port Adelaide by 45 points in Saturday's AFL match.

The Hawks remain top of the table after their 19.10 (124) to 12.7 (79) triumph at AAMI Stadium.

Roughead and Gunston made light of the absence of superstar Lance Franklin, a late withdrawal with an as-yet undisclosed ailment.

Five talking points: Port Adelaide v Hawthorn

Opportunist forwards Isaac Smith and Shane Savage also revelled with three majors each.

Roughead, the League's leading goal-scorer, booted three of his goals in a game-breaking third quarter.

Coach Alastair Clarkson said the spread of goal-kickers in Lance Franklin's absence was a highlight.
 
"We've worked on that a fair bit and feel like we've got good potency that can be spread across a number of players that can go in that part of the ground," Clarkson said.
 
"Savage stepped up and kicked three and I think Smith kicked three so that's really pleasing. It's really important to have that spread and not rely on just one or two players."

After leading by just 12 points at half-time, the Hawks accelerated with six goals to two for a match-winning 37-point advantage at the last change.

Skipper Luke Hodge was instrumental in the victory and formed a winning midfield with the likes of Jordan Lewis.

Click here to vote for the three best Hawthorn players from the game

But Lewis faces scrutiny for a behind play blow that winded Port's Chad Wingard in the opening minutes.

Wingard continued his breakout second season with another influential game, his captain Travis Boak was tireless and goal-sneaks Angus Monfries and Jake Neade both kicked two goals.

But Port seemingly burnt their petrol tickets in a second quarter comeback.

After Hawthorn opened menacingly with the initial four goals of the game, the Power edged their way back into the contest to trail by just three points midway through the second term.

Click here to vote for the three best Port Adelaide players from the game

Sensing danger, Hawthorn slotted two late goals and then went on their match-defining scoring spree in the third quarter.

The Hawks host Western Bulldogs next Saturday in Tasmania with Ben Stratton an unlikely starter after being concussed against the Power - he ducked into a Wingard tackle and was nearly knocked out.

Port, scrapping to remain in the top eight with eight wins and seven losses, travel to play St Kilda next Saturday night in Melbourne.

Although suffering a second-consecutive loss, Power coach Ken Hinkley insisted his players had learnt a valuable lesson.
 
"Clearly everyone that watched the game would say we over-used the ball – that's the pressure that Hawthorn bring," Hinkley said.
 
"The two sides that I think have put us under that much pressure are Hawthorn and Geelong and they sit one, two on the ladder.
 
"We know we've got lots of work to do to handle the pressure that those top sides can put on you.
 
Hawthorn's Luke Breust (l) and Cyril Rioli (r) fight for the ball with Port Adelaide's Matthew Broadbent. Picture: AFL Media

PORT ADELAIDE      2.2   8.4    10.5 12.7 (79)                  

HAWTHORN       6.0   10.4      16.6   19.10   (124)          

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Monfries, Neade 2, Butcher, Schulz, Gray, Thomas, Ebert, Wingard, Boak, Cornes
Hawthorn: Gunston, Roughead 5, Savage, Smith 3, Lewis, Rioli, Hodge

BEST 
Port Adelaide: Boak, Gray, Ebert, Wingard, Thomas,
Hawthorn: Roughead, Hodge, Smith, Gunston, Mitchell, Savage

INJURIES 
Port Adelaide: Nil
Hawthorn: Ben Stratton (concussion).

SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Jake Neade replaced Tom Logan in the third quarter.
Hawthorn: Jonathan Simpkin replaced Ben Stratton in the third quarter.

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Dalgleish, Nicholls, Merideth

Official crowd: 23,748 at AAMI Stadium