Lewis: Hawks ready for Port's AFL speed

Fierce outside running has become a key feature of Port Adelaide's game, but Hawthorn star Jordan Lewis says his team will be ready.

Port Adelaide players celebrate.

Port Adelaide's need for speed in the finals series will face its sternest test against Hawthorn. (AAP)

Port Adelaide's need for speed in this AFL finals series will face its sternest test against the September-hardened Hawthorn mean machine.

All-Australian Hawks midfielder Jordan Lewis has scoffed at the notion that they might struggle to match Port's outside pace in the preliminary final on Saturday at the MCG.

When it was put to Lewis that if they have a weakness against Port, it's speed, he immediately retorted "is it?"

Port burned off Richmond in the first term of the elimination final and their famous gut-running was a key feature of the second-half recovery in the semi-final win over Fremantle.

"We don't tend to talk ourselves up in the media, but we have supreme confidence in our ability to play any style of game," Lewis said.

"You have to win the ball on the inside, there's no doubt about that, but our outside game is as good as any side going around."

While Port have had to defy recent AFL history to come this far, Hawthorn are in their fourth-straight preliminary final and have the advantage of a week's rest.

But Lewis and other veterans at Hawthorn know better than anyone not to read too much into those circumstances.

He was part of the Hawks team that stunned Geelong to win the 2008 premiership after playing in their first preliminary final for seven years.

"Even ... this year, it's not going the way it's been planned," Lewis said, referring to Fremantle and Geelong going out in straight sets.

"There are certain aspects of a preliminary final we feel comfortable with ... they might be advantages.

"But if you rest on those sorts of things, you'll end up with a big shock come game day."

But there was no shock on Tuesday night when Lewis made his first All-Australian team.

Lewis has enjoyed his most consistent season since debuting in 2005.

Team-mates Jarryd Roughead and Luke Breust also made the honorary team.

It was particularly special for Lewis because he, Roughead and former Hawk Lance Franklin all joined the club in the 2004 national draft.

"We were the three guys who were obviously drafted together and to a certain extent, shaped the way Hawthorn are today," Lewis said.

"To earn All-Australian with the two guys you were drafted with and you spent a large chunk of your career with, is something we'll look back on and have a beer over."

When it was then put to Lewis that it might be more than one beer, he grinned and said "a 5am cab home and get a pie with sauce."


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