Australian Football

Match Report

Hawthorn's 2017 season resurrection has continued, with the Hawks scoring a big win over Brisbane at York Park on Saturday. In a solid performance, the Hawks won all four quarters to win out winners by 38 points to continue their climb up the ladder. After starting the season with four consecutive losses, Hawthorn has now won three of its last four games. In contrast, the Lions have now lost seven matches in a row after recording a first-up win against Gold Coast in round one. 

After Luke Breust kicked off the match with a point for Hawthorn, Eric Hipwood gave Brisbane a good start to the match, kicking a goal after being awarded a free kick for holding at five-minute mark. But for the next 20 minutes, the Hawks held sway, and majors to Billy Hartung, Tim O'Brien, Jarryd Roughead and Isaac Smith saw them out to a 19-point lead. Brisbane hit back with a late goal to Jarrod Berry, and it was Hawthorn by 13 at quarter time. 

Brisbane started the second quarter well, and goals to Jake Barrett and Tom Bell had the Lions back within two points and right back in the match midway through the term. Hawthorn steadied with a goal to Isaac Smith, but Brisbane was back within two when Hipwood make strongly and kicked his second at the 23-minute mark. But the Lions faded badly in the final few minutes of the quarter, allowing late goals to O'Brien and Ben McEvoy, which allowed Hawthorn to win the term and take a 15-point lead into half time. 

The Lions had a couple of chances to make inroads into their deficit early in the third quarter, but Marco Paparone and Hipwood both missed gettable shots and Hawthorn made them pay with Daniel Howe kicking the first goal of the quarter at the eight-minute mark to extend the lead to 19 points. Tom Rockliff had Brisbane back within 13 points when he kicked truly at the 18-minute mark, but Hawthorn answered through Rioli to lead by 20 points after 22 minutes. The Lions goaled again through Rohan Bewick, but they were hurt again by late Hawthorn goals, this time to Jack Gunston ad Ricky Henderson, at it was the Hawks by 29 at the last break.

Needing the first goal of the final term to give themselves a chance, the Lions started the final term well and after adding a couple of behinds, narrowed the margin to 21 points with a goal to Josh Walker at the eight-minute mark. But Hawthorn hit back almost immediately through skipper Roughead, and his goal sparked a run of majors to the Hawks, with Liam Shiels, Breust and Henderson adding three more to take the lead beyond 50 points. Brisbane fought on in the time-on period to kick three of the last four goals but they were small consolation, Hawthorn cruising to a comfortable win.

Tom Mitchell played another great game for the Hawks, picking up 36 touches and laying nine tackles. For Brisbane, Tom Rockliff (13 tackles, 30 possessions) and Stefan Martin (63 hitouts, 10 tackles) were standouts.

Hawthorn will look to further climb the ladder with a win over Collingwood (17th, 2-6) at the MCG on Saturday night, while at the same time at the Gabba, the Lions will host Adelaide, who remain on top of the ladder despite two losses in a row.

GOALS
Hawthorn: Henderson 3; Roughead, Smith, O’Brien 2; Gunston, Rioli, Hartung, McEvoy, Howe, Shiels, Breust, Burgoyne
Brisbane: Hipwood, Walker, Barrett 2; Berry, Bell, Bewick, Rockliff, Lester

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Burton, Howe, Hartung, Smith, Hodge, Henderson
Brisbane: Rockliff, Martin, Rich, Hipwood, Lester, Zorko

BEST - THE AGE
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Shiels, McEvoy, Burgoyne, Henderson, Smith
Brisbane: Rockliff, Andrews, Zorko, Hipwood, Martin, Gardiner

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Stratton (knee), Rioli (knee)
Brisbane: Rockliff (shoulder)

REPORTS: Isaac Smith (Hawthorn) reported for striking Nick Robertson (Brisbane Lions).

UMPIRES: O’Gorman, Jeffery, Mitchell

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Brenton Speed, Dermott Brereton, Alastair Lynch, Brian Taylor