Australian Football

Match Report

Hawthorn has seen off a feisty Western Bulldogs outfit to maintain its hold on top place of the ladder at York Park in Launceston on Saturday afternoon. Missing stars Lance Franklin and Sam Mitchell through injury, the Hawks established an early lead by kicking the first three goals of the match through Jarryd Roughead, Paul Puopolo and Cyril Rioli, before the Bulldogs settled and worked their way back into the match.

But while the Dogs worked very hard and had more of the ball, their lack of polish deprived them of any chance to put a real stamp on the game and the Hawks managed to keep them at arms-length throughout the game. Only 16 points ahead at the final change, the Hawks threatened to finally blow the Western Bulldogs out of the water when they kicked six of the first eight goals of the last quarter to establish a 44-point lead.

The inexperienced Dogs fought on valiantly, however and kicked the last four goals of the match to go down by 19 points, a relatively fair reflection of their efforts throughout the afternoon.

Hawk captain Luke Hodge provided one of the highlights of the season when he smothered a full-blooded kick from Bulldog Ryan Griffen, took control of the bobbling ball and then kicked a goal from well outside the 50-metre arc.

Best for the Hawks were Isaac Smith, Hodge and Joel Lewis, while the Bulldogs were well served by Ryan Griffen, who will push for All-Australian selection this year, Adam Cooney and Tom Liberatore.

An unexpected loss to Geelong sees Hawthorn now a game clear of the Cats and the Bombers at the head of the ladder. The Hawks take on the now second-placed Bombers at Docklands stadium this Friday night.

The Bulldogs, in 15th place on the ladder with just four wins, will host the faltering West Coast Eagles at the same venue on Sunday afternoon.

GOALS
Hawthorn: Roughead 3; Lewis, Simpkin, Hodge 2; Whitecross, Puopolo, Rioli, Breust
Western Bulldogs: Dahlhaus, Dickson, Giansiracusa, Griffen 2; Addison, Grant, Jones

BEST - SPORTAL.COM.AU
Hawthorn: Smith, Hodge, Roughead, Sewell, Lewis, Hill
Western Bulldogs: Griffen, Cooney, Giansiracusa, Liberatore

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Hawthorn: Smith, Lewis, Hodge, Stratton, Hale, Hill
Western Bulldogs: Griffen, Liberatore, Cooney, Picken, Giansiracusa

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Brett Goodes (arm)

SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Brent Guerra replaced by Jonathan Simpkin at three-quarter time
Western Bulldogs: Nathan Hrovat replaced by Lachie Hunter in the third quarter

UMPIRES: Bannister, Schmitt, Fisher

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Hamish McLachlan, Basil Zempilas, Tom Harley, Andrew Welsh