Australian Football

Match Report

The difference between the strength and depth of an elite side such as Hawthorn and a middle of the road team like the Western Bulldogs was plain for all to see in the match between these two sides at York Park in Launceston on Sunday. Despite losing Sam Mitchell and Isaac Smith to injury prior to the start of the game, the Hawks jumped straight into gear and kicked four goals in the first 12 minutes of the match to leave the Bulldogs reeling. And despite the Bulldogs to their credit working their way back into the match over the next two quarters, the Hawks were able to "flick the switch" when necessary in the final term to turn a five-goal lead at the seven-minute mark of the last quarter into a 62-point hiding barely 20 minutes later.

Despite the margin, the Bulldogs were far from disgraced, restricting Hawthorn's scoring ability for prolonged periods and getting to within 17 points of the Hawks as the third quarter entered time on. But Hawthorn had one thing that the Bulldogs have chronically lacked for a long time - a key forward who can kick goals. That man was Jarryd Roughead and the Hawk spearhead had a day out against the Dogs, kicking six goals. In contrast the Dogs' key forward Tom Campbell, despite looking good at times, could manage just two. Nevertheless the match could be taken as a valuable lesson for the Dogs, with youngsters such as Jack Macrae, Jake Stringer, Nathan Hrovat and Lachie Hunter learning from Hawthorn's best. The Hawks were also likely to be happy with the hit-out, being sternly challenged and responding when required, a perfect tune-up for the finals which are now only a month away.

Roughead was the stand-out player of the match, with six goals, while Liam Shiels (28 disposals and five tackles) and Jordan Lewis (26 possessions, two goals) were also fine contributors. For the Dogs, Bob Murphy, playing his best footy at age 32, had a career-high 32 possessions and was magnificent. Skipper Ryan Griffen (29 touches and six marks) and Jack Macrae (31 disposals and four marks) also had excellent games.

The winning margin was enough to see the Hawks pinch top spot on the ladder from Sydney, and they will look to give the percentage an even bigger boost at the MCG next Saturday when they take on lowly Melbourne. The Dogs, 14th on the ladder, will look to record their seventh win of the season against bottom side St Kilda at Docklands on Sunday.

GOALS
Hawthorn: Roughead 6; Gunston 3; Lewis 2; McEvoy, Duryea, Hale, Breust, Simpkin
Western Bulldogs: Campbell 2; Dahlhaus, Higgins, Crameri, Stringer

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Hawthorn: Roughead, Shiels, Suckling, Birchall, Lewis, Langford
Western Bulldogs: Murphy, Griffen, Macrae, Minson, Liberatore

BEST - THE AGE
Hawthorn: Roughead, Lewis, Shiels, Birchall, Hodge
Western Bulldogs: Griffen, Liberatore, Dahlhaus, Macrae, Murphy

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Mitchell (illness) replaced in selected side by Will Langford; Smith (calf) replaced in selected side by Taylor Duryea; Gunston (TBC)
Western Bulldogs: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Jonathon Simpkin replaced Ryan Schoenmakers in the final quarter
Western Bulldogs: Koby Stevens replaced Adam Cooney in the third quarter

UMPIRES: Burgess, Hosking, Schmitt

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Bruce McAvaney, Luke Darcy, Tim Watson, Mark McVeigh