THEY call him the 'Wizard' for this reason.

Nick Watson will be measured up for his first All-Australian blazer by the end of August if he maintains this form after the box office star produced the most dominant game of his career on Saturday.

HAWKS v POWER Full match coverage and stats

The 170cm pocket rocket flaunted his deep array of spells, kicking a career-high five goals in a variety of ways that show why, even at just 21, Watson is the best small forward in the competition right now after leading Hawthorn to a fifth consecutive win in a three-point thriller against Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium.  

Hawthorn needed to respond in the second half. After kicking seven first-quarter goals to almost kill the game by the first break, Port Adelaide shocked Sam Mitchell's side by kicking all six goals of the second quarter to lead by nine points at half-time. 

The Power then went punch for punch in one of the games of the season. And they could have won it. Mitch Georgiades had a set shot with 45 seconds left from 45 metres out to win the game but pushed the ball across the face. 

The Hawks held on to win 13.11 (89) to 13.8 (86), with co-captain James Sicily intercepting Port Adelaide's final foray forward. They wouldn't have been in that position without Watson.

The livewire whipped out his wand in the third quarter, ending a 37-minute wait between goals, converting a set shot after being collected high by Lachie Jones, before doing what he has been doing all his life minutes later when he arrived front and centre at full pace, burned off everyone, then calmly snapped a fifth. 

But it was a day where Josh Carr's side showed true grit, led by two superstars for the Power.

Jason Horne-Francis dominated in a Patrick Dangerfield manner, standing out with his core strength, hands and brutality, finishing with 28 disposals, seven score involvements, 501 metres gained and 2.2.

After enduring a week where his integrity was questioned at the AFL Tribunal and his name was discussed ad nauseum, Zak Butters demonstrated his character with a dominant display around the ball, amassing 35 disposals and 16 contested possessions.

It’s important to bank wins early. Hawthorn escaped with this one, but it showed how stacked it is with key forward depth. With Mabior Chol straining his hamstring at Gather Round and Jack Gunston managing a corked calf, the Hawks rewarded two young spearheads with royal brown and gold blood. 

And they delivered. 

Calsher Dear has endured a frustrating 12 months with his body and form, but the 20-year-old showed on Saturday that he is a star of the future. In his first game since last year’s elimination final, the 195cm forward showcased his phenomenal athleticism from the start and hit the scoreboard, finishing with two goals, which should have been three.

Debutant Will McCabe looked comfortable at the level after waiting over 800 days to get his first chance at AFL level, kicking his first goal when the Hawks needed it most by converting a set shot from deep in the pocket late in the game.

Mitch Lewis continued his purple patch with three more goals, including a crucial set shot late, enhancing his status as one of the most attractive free agents of 2026. The 27-year-old has kicked nine goals across the past month and is providing a dominant aerial presence, after enduring a horrific run of knee injuries.

On a night where Hawthorn celebrated Karl Amon’s 200th game, more than 37,000 turned up at Marvel Stadium and were treated to a game that was every bit as good as the 2024 semi-final, just without the status and the theatre of Ken Hinkley and Jack Ginnivan after the final siren.

Worth the wait
Will McCabe had been waiting for this moment for not just the two-and-a-half years since he was drafted with pick No.19 in the 2023 Telstra AFL Draft, but most of his life, growing up as the son of former Hawk Luke. But after serving a long apprenticeship at Box Hill, the 20-year-old stood up late with a crucial first goal that he will never forget. He was involved from the outset and will always remember his debut.  

MRO concern for star Hawks
Dylan Moore and James Sicily will both come under scrutiny from Match Review Officer Michael Christian. Both were involved in off-the-ball incidents in the third quarter. Sicily's was 100 metres away and almost cost a crucial goal after the three quarter-time siren for a controversial hit to the sternum of Logan Evans. Moore appeared to land a blow on the same player earlier in the quarter. Hawthorn faces Gold Coast on Anzac Day in Launceston and could be without both All-Australians. 

Butters delivers after week in spotlight
Zak Butters has been on the back of every paper in the country all week for the controversial moment involving umpire Nick Foot on Sunday night. Port Adelaide will appeal that $1500 fine on Monday based on how the Tribunal handled the case. But on Saturday, the three-time best and fairest showed it hadn't distracted him, producing another brilliant performance that should be rewarded with Brownlow Medal votes.

HAWTHORN        7.3    7.5    11.6    13.11 (89)
PORT ADELAIDE    3.1   9.2    11.6    13.8 (86)
 
GOALS
Hawthorn:  Watson 5, Lewis 3, Dear 2, McCabe, Moore, Ginnivan
Port Adelaide:  Whitlock 2, Mackinlay 2, Horne-Francis 2, Georgiades 2, Wines, Durdin, Butters, Burgoyne, Jones

BEST
Hawthorn: Watson, Impey, Lewis, Nash, Newcombe, D’Ambrosio
Port Adelaide: Horne-Francis, Butters, Marshall, Drew, Bergman

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Port Adelaide: Nil

Crowd: 37,070 at Marvel Stadium