Australian Football

Match Report

Hawthorn has scored a regulation win over a disappointing West Coast at its home away from home, York Park, in front of 15,504 fans in Launceston on Saturday afternoon. After a even first-term which saw the Eagles lead by a goal at the first break, the Hawks took control of the match in the second and third terms, kicking 13 goals to four to lead by 48 points at the last change. To its credit, West Coast fought out the game in the last quarter, kicking four goals to three, but the Hawks appeared to be in cruise control for much of that term and coasted home to win by 44 points.

The win was highlighted by a bag of eight goals to spearhead Jarryed Roughead. In his 194th game, Roughead also had 24 possessions, took eight marks and laid six tackles to be a stand-out as best player on the ground. For the victors there was also another good news story, with ruckman Luke Lowden, drafted by the Hawks way back in 2008, finally making his debut for the club. Lowden, the last player from that draft still on a club list to make his debut, made the most of the occasion. kicking three goals and having 15 hitouts. Luke Hodge (28 possessions, seven tackles) and Jordan Lewis (30 disposals, seven marks) also played fine games for the winners, while West Coast was well served by Andrew Gaff (26 touches and three goals) and, in just his second game, Jeremy McGovern (the son of former Swan and Docker Andrew), who kicked two goals and had 15 possessions.

As a result of the win, Hawthorn maintains its hold on second place on the ladder, although there a several sides pushing hard to take its spot, with eighth-placed Gold Coast only a game behind the Hawks, who will take on 12th-placed Carlton at the MCG on Friday night. For the Eagles, the season seems to be slipping away. In 11th place, they are three games out of the eight, and all four of their wins have come against teams below them. They will host Gold Coast (eight) at Subiaco on Saturday. A win there against the Suns will see them retain a flicker of hope of some September action.

GOALS
Hawthorn: Roughead 8; Gunston, Lowden 3; Breust, Suckling, Hodge, Rioli, Smith
West Coast: Gaff 3; Ellis, McGovern 2; LeCras, Masten, Naitanui, Hurn, Darling

BEST - THE SUNDAY AGE
Hawthorn: Roughead, Hodge, Lewis, Smith, Rioli, Suckling, Spangher, Shiels
West Coast: McGovern, Gaff, Priddis, Masten, Shuey

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Hawthorn: Roughead, Hodge, Smith, Lewis, Spangher
West Coast: Priddis, McGovern, Gaff, Hutchings, Shuey

COACHES' COMMENTS
Brendon Bolton (Haw): Although it wasn't our best game of footy, we're really pleased that we showed some resilience and toughed it out. Obviously we've got some players that we'd like to have in the side but we had some people really stand up today, like young Gus Litherland, Taylor Duryea and Ryan Schoenmakers.

Adam Simpson (WCo): We wanted intent and work-rate when we came over and I thought we got that, in particular in the first quarter. Just some critical fumbles and the fundamentals [cost us]. I thought their leaders stood up - Hodge and Roughead. When the game was in the balance, you could clearly see that they went to another level, and we couldn't match it.

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Hartung (elbow)
West Coast: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Billy Hartung replaced Cyril Rioli in the fourth quarter.
West Coast: Sharrod Wellingham replaced Xavier Ellis in the third quarter.

UMPIRES: Nicholls, Harris, Foot

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Anthony Hudson, Dermott Brereton, Michael Voss, Cameron Mooney