Australian Football

Match Report

Hawthorn has served notice that it will again be a force to be reckoned with in 2013, with a crushing second-half performance against Collingwood at the MCG. The Magpies, widely fancied as at least a top four team by most pundits, were made to look second rate for much of the third and final quarters as the Hawthorn machine, led by stars Luke Hodge and Buddy Franklin, flexed its considerable muscle.

Collingwood had looked the team to beat for much of the first two quarters, with Travis Cloke and Jamie Elliott dominant, and at the 17-minute mark of the second term the Magpies led by 22 points. But the Hawks turned things around from that moment onwards and a goal to Jed Anderson at the 22-minute mark sparked a Hawthorn goal avalanche that barely paused for the remainder of the match.

By half-time the lead had been cut back to a single point and the Hawks then went on a scoring spree in the third term, kicking 8.4 to 4.3. A shell-shocked Collingwood was unable to recover in the last quarter as Hawthorn added a further seven goals to two to record a 55-point thrashing.

Birchall, Hodge and Franklin were outstanding for the Hawks, while Travis Cloke and Dane Swan flew the flag bravely for Collingwood.

Hathorn's ability to kick a big score against the Pies must be a concern for Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley. Since he's taken the reins, the Hawks have scored 137, 138, 135 and 145 points in four games against his side. Hawthorn has won those four matches by an average of 40 points.

The Magpies will now face the undefeated Richmond in a huge match at the MCG while, Hawthorn, with their season very much back on track after a round one loss to Geelong, will head down to York Park in Launcston to take on Fremantle.

GOALS
Collingwood: Cloke 5; Elliott 3; Blair, Hudson, Fasolo, Brown, Lynch
Hawthorn: Franklin 4; Breust, Roughead, Burgoyne 3; Hodge, Hill 2; Hale, Anderson, Birchall, Puopolo, Lewis

BEST - THE AGE
Collingwood: Cloke, Hudson, Swan, Pendlebury, Dwyer
Hawthorn: Hodge, Birchall, Burgoyne, Franklin, Shiels, Stratton, Mitchell

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Collingwood: Cloke, Swan, Elliott, Blair, Hudson, Johnson
Hawthorn: Hodge, Franklin, Shiels, Birchall, Stratton, Gibson, Roughead, Burgoyne

COACHES' COMMENTS
Nathan Buckley (Coll): We spoke before the game about how important it was going to be to stick our tackles and be able to use the ball through Hawthorn's pressure in close. We were able to match them early but as the game wore on they were tougher, more physical. They were able to get handballs out of our tackles and stop us from doing the same.

Alastair Clarkson (Haw): Our players perhaps adapted to the conditions a little bit better after quarter time. Once we were able to use the chance to get the ball forward, the game started to turn our way.

INJURIES
Collingwood: Reid (jarred knee)
Hawthorn: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Alex Fasolo repaced Jack Frost in the third quarter
Hawthorn: Jack Gunston replaced Max Bailey in the third quarter

REPORTS
Collingwood: Harry O'Brien for rough conduct in the second quarter (the report was later withdrawn)
Hawthorn: Nil

UMPIRES: Donlon, Stevic, Ryan