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Gemma Houghton struck the first blow before Indy Tahau kicked five second-half goals as Port Adelaide foiled Hawthorn’s first two hopes with a 35-point AFLW win at Alberton Oval.

Hawthorn went into Friday night’s game looking to avenge last year’s semi-final loss to Port Adelaide when the Power trailed by 22 points at three quarters and secured a famous one-point win.

Instead, it was Houghton who opened the game early with three goals and a goal assist in the first half before Tahau capped off Hawthorn’s brief comeback as the Power raced to a 15.4 (94) to 8.11 (59) victory.

Hawthorn’s second defeat of the season means Melbourne (7-2) will move them into second place if the Demons can beat Sydney on Saturday.

Port Adelaide (4-6) still has a slim chance of reaching the final with two games remaining, but they at least kept their slim hopes alive by beating Hawthorn (8-2).

Tahau finished with 5.2 and under from 14 disposals, Houghton kicking three goals and being involved in seven; Port Ruck Matilda Scholz, meanwhile, made the most of the late withdrawal of Lucy Wales (appendicitis) to achieve 34 tackles, 22 disposals, six clearances, 473m gained and 10 scoring involvements.

Aine McDonagh scored three goals for Hawthorn while Eliza West scored 28 goals, including 10 possessions, during the Hawks’ third-quarter campaign.

Wales’ pre-match defeat to Hawthorn left him badly hurt, with fellow forward Jess Vukic suffering a concussion when he accidentally hit his elbow while making a tackle in the second quarter.

Hawthorn’s best patch in the first half came when McDonagh and Aileen Gilroy scored within a minute of each other in the first quarter.

Houghton’s second goal gave Port a four-point lead at quarter-time, and her third goal of the game – plus a neat handball for Ella Boag to score a stunning goal from the pocket – gave the Power a 17-point lead at half-time.

Tahau dominated the opening stages of the third quarter with two quick goals, each coming from points.

Facing a 35-point gap, Hawthorn needed a spark and McDonagh provided it.

His shot from the pocket ended Port’s five-goal run and his third goal of the match shortly afterwards helped reduce the lead to 13 points with the final change.

The pressure was on Port to withstand the fierce comeback and Tahau beat the Hawks with a devastating one-two punch in the opening minutes of the final term.

Houghton’s striker played a key role in Tahau scoring his third goal.

But Tahau’s fourth major was his individual genius; The 22-year-old grabbed the ball with one hand and then kicked it for real, extending the lead to 24 points.

The game ended when Tahau marked a ball over the top and waltzed into the open goal for his fifth major of the match, sparking wild celebrations.

Tahau’s feat took her goal total for the season to 21 goals, two ahead of Sydney’s Chloe Molloy.

AAP