Two games left in the Home and Away season. Two opportunities to solidify Hawthorn’s stake in a finals berth.
This Saturday, the Hawks will take the stage for their last home game at the MCG and penultimate match for the home and away season, playing against the Melbourne Demons.
This comes after Hawthorn’s surprisingly spectacular victory over the Collingwood Magpies in a Thursday night blockbuster at the MCG. With their season hanging in the balance, the Hawks put on a dominant display over the Pies, stunning them with their intense pressure and scoreboard accuracy early.
It was the wiz-kid Nick Watson who lit the spark, snagging two goals early in the first quarter. This was following a sickening head clash between Jai Newcombe and Jeremy Howe, which saw the former carried from the ground in a stretcher.
The Pies replied through Brody Mihochek and Jordan De Goey, and by the first break, there was one goal in it, with Hawthorn holding onto the lead. Mabior Chol had the opportunity to extend the lead with a kick after the siren, but failed to convert.
But as soon as the siren rang for the second quarter, all momentum swung towards Hawthorn. Moving the ball predominately by foot, the Hawks utilised their four talls, and their ruck, to their advantage. Lloyd Meek and Chol, both kicked two for the quarter, while Mitch Lewis and Jack Gunston also hit the scoreboard.
Recording a pressure rating of 188, Hawthorn kept the Pies to one goal for the second term, while seven straight goals for the quarter, giving them a 39-point lead heading into the main break.
Hawthorn would continue its domination over Collingwood for the remainder of the match. In the midfield, they led in the clearances, with Meek registering 32 hitouts against Darcy Cameron (24), and Newcombe, in a stunning bounce back, led in the clearances (7).
Massimo D’Ambrosio and Jarman Impey were important, utilising their speed to help deliver the ball into the forward fifty, while emerging midfielder Josh Ward combined with Newcombe for 22 score involvements.
Hawthorn’s four talls kicked nine goals between them total for the match, with Gunston kicking four to reach 50 goals for the season. Meek joined in on the action kicking three, beating his personal best and earning Hawks’ fans vote for MVP.
This all culminated in a 64 point win over the Pies, giving them a much needed percentage boost, which puts them at seventh on the ladder, 4% behind the Gold Coast Suns.
Tale of the Tape
Melbourne once had the upper hand on Hawthorn, beating them six times in the last five years. But recently the tables have turned.
Once a formidable side with aspirations of developing a premiership dynasty, things have shifted at the Melbourne Football Club, with their form dropping away significantly and, most recently, their coach in Simon Goodwin being sacked from the club.
Melbourne currently sit at thirteenth on the ladder, with seven wins, 14 losses for the season. Last round, Melbourne coughed up a ten point lead to lose to the Western Bulldogs by six points at the MCG.
As such, Hawthorn will look to capitalise on this match, further build upon their percentage and safeguard their position in the eight, while Melbourne will come into this game with nothing to lose other than to create an upset.
The Last They Met
It was a much-needed but ugly 35 point win for Hawthorn at the MCG back in round nine.
Following two bitter losses to Port Adelaide and the Geelong Cats, Hawthorn looked to get back on the winners list with this match and keep their spot in the top four. However, it was more of an arm wrestle than a white wash against the 15th placed Melbourne.
In a low scoring affair, Hawthorn led by a single point by the half way point, kicking 5.5 over the two quarters. Melbourne, meanwhile, squandered their opportunities in their forward half kicking 4.10 in a half of footy, kicking at 29%.
It was Gunston and Chol who combined for five goals in the final quarter that helped Hawthorn break away and build the 35 point lead needed to lock in the win.
Melbourne were strong in the midfield, with +15 hit outs and +11 clearances. Max Gawn put his experience on display, out playing Lloyd Meek with 33 hit outs and six clearances from 19 disposals, while Jake Bowey and Christian Petracca combined for 54 disposals.
Despite recording a pressure rating of 196 to 178 in the second term, Hawthorn finished the night with -17 tackles, with ten players laying only one tackle and three failing to record one. This would set the precedent for Hawthorn’s drop in pressure in the following weeks.
James Worpel was the most prolific player on ball, recording 28 disposals, six clearances, and a match high ten tackles, while D’Ambrosio recorded a match high 594 metres gained from 26 disposals.
The Short of It
Hawthorn enter this game unchanged, following Luke Bruest’s announcement he will retire come season end.
The top eight continues to be extremely tight, with four points separating second and eighth. Gold Coast (6th), Hawthorn (7th), and GWS (8th) each have 56 points while Geelong (2nd), Collingwood (3rd), and Fremantle (4th) each have 60.
The top end of the ladder could change considerably, with some big matches on this weekend. Collingwood will face first placed Adelaide in South Australia, while GWS face Gold Coast at People’s First Stadium and the Brisbane Lions will head over to Perth to play against Fremantle.
Depending on how much they win by, Hawthorn could either see themselves slotted at sixth place or potentially fifth should they record a blow out and Collingwood lose.
