Australian Football

Match Report

In a thrilling encounter at the MCG, Hawthorn has pipped North Melbourne by three points to take a spot in the AFL top four. The match was in the balance for much of the day and until the dying seconds, with the Kangaroos deep in attack when the final siren sounded.

Though just three points separated the two sides at the end, the result created a big gap between them from a season perspective. A North win would have seen the Hawks with a 3-2 record and fifth on the ladder, while the Roos would have been 2-3, in 10th place and just a game adrift. But with Hawthorn in front at the final siren, they moved to 4-1 and fourth place, three clear of North's 1-4 record which has consigned them to 13th place.

While there is still time for the Kangaroos to make the eight, they will need to start winning soon. THe Hawks will be very pleased with their standing, given the tough opening to the season fixture-wise that they've endured.

Not many gave North a chance of winning this match, given that in their last meeting the Hawks walloped them by 113 points, with Lance Franklin kicking 13 goals. But North full-back Scott Thompson played a fantastic game on the Hawk spearhead this time around, keeping "Buddy" goal-less (although Franklin did kick five behinds).

The Hawks led at every change but there was never much between the teams. The margin was 11 points at quarter time, five points at the main break and eight points at the last change. North took the lead in the early stages of the final term, and at one stage drew 9 points clear. But Hawthorn rallied and regained the lead via goals to Cyril Rioli (who soon after tore a hamstring) and Sam Mitchell, and they held on to record a very slender victory.

Best for the Hawks were Rioli, Jordan Lewis and Mitchell, while Daniel Wells, Thompson and Swallow were excellent for North.

Hawthorn will now travel to Adelaide to face the Crows, while North will head down to Hobart to host the undefeated Port Adelaide.

GOALS
Hawthorn: Rioli 4; Bailey 3; Smith, Osborne, Burgoyne, Roughead, Hill, Mitchell, Gunston
North Melbourne: Thomas 5; Black 2; Ziebell, Mullett, Adams, Petrie, Gibson, Wells

BEST - THE AGE
Hawthorn: Rioli, Lewis, Mitchell, Burgoyne, Birchall, Lake
North Melbourne: Wells, Thomas, Thompson, Cunnington, Swallow, Ziebell

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Hawthorn: Rioli, Lewis, Mitchell, Burgoyne
North Melbourne: Wells, Swallow, Thomas, Thompson, Ziebell, Bastinac

COACHES' COMMENTS
Alastair Clarkson (Haw): It's a long season and you're not going to have it on your terms all the time. We didn't play anywhere near our best footy today. Was that because we were just a little bit off or because of the way the Kangaroos approached it? I don't know.

Brad Scott (NM): Our effort and contested possession rate, our ability to fight was really good. I'm really proud of the players in the way they approached the game and the way they fought and took it up to a very good football side but the fact is we're one win, four losses.

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Rioli (right hamstring)
North Melbourne: Hansen (knee) replaced in selected side by Black

SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Shane Savage replaced Max Bailey during the third quarter
North Mebourne: Liam Anthony replaced Majak Daw at three-quarter-time

UMPIRES: Farmer, Stevic, Ryan