If this was billed as the match of the season to date, then it makes sense to declare Hawthorn the team to beat in the premiership chase after their two-goal win over Greater Western Sydney in Launceston on Saturday night.
On a night when one of the light towers at the University of Tasmania Stadium briefly went out (but play continued), and a punishing wind meant all 11 goals to half-time were kicked to the one end, it was the Hawks – led superbly, among others, by Will Day (24 disposals) and Nick Watson (21 disposals, nine score involvements, a goal) – who ultimately prevailed.
They remain undefeated after four matches, and can now refresh with a bye before resuming against Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval, when memories of last year’s verbal stoush with Ken Hinkley will burn brightly.
Collingwood great Nathan Buckley, commenting on Fox Footy, said the Hawks had all tactical and personnel bases covered.
“They strangle the opposition into submission,” Buckley said.
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However, it would be foolish to dismiss the Giants. They remain a legitimate flag aspirant, and will only get better once Jake Stringer adjusts to life with his new club.
The stream-lined former Bomber and Bulldog was goalless and made a patchy debut at his third club, but he adds to an already potent forward line featuring Jesse Hogan (four goals), Toby Greene and Aaron Cadman.
This was the only time the two clubs will meet in the home-and-away season. What is clear is that after their two meetings last season, when the Hawks prevailed by a goal in Launceston, before the Giants responded with a two-point win in Canberra, combined with this latest result, is that the AFL world would likely be treated to a classic should they meet in the finals.
Each side had their tactical wins, but the Hawks ultimately denied the Giants the run and carry they craved.
The Hawks adjusted in the third term, highlighting why coach Sam Mitchell is considered one of the best in the business. Buckley had questioned why their defenders had been lining up “back shoulder” to their opponents, leaving too much room through the midfield for the Giants to dominate, as prime movers Josh Kelly and Lachie Whitfield did with the use of the breeze.
However, come the third term, the Hawks largely clogged the midfield, and the Giants lost their drive. Despite kicking into the wind, the Hawks, looking to handball more, booted four goals to two, and extended their lead to 20 points by the final break.
“We saw the breeze coming in, I thought our boys fought hard,” Watson said.
“It was a bit of an adjustment. Us forwards had to get moving. We were a bit slack in that first quarter, so it was a bit of an adjustment. We just needed energy. We definitely brought that.”
There was a moment of exhilaration from Watson when the man nicknamed the Wizard cheekily “showed”, as Hawks great Jordan Lewis described it, the ball at a trailing Whitfield before burning off his opponent and finding a leading Blake Hardwick. The latter duly converted.
The diminutive Watson also won free kicks for high tackles.
“About time, I have missed a few in the past. Thanks to the umps for giving to me,” Watson said cheekily.
Hardwick was magnificent all night, whether playing as a small forward, or as a spare man marshalling his teammates in defence. Cam McKenzie was another to shine, Josh Weddle was his typically robust self and had five intercept marks, Finn Maginness returned to his role as a blue-chip tagger, while Day delivered an exhilarating burst from a stoppage to drill a 60m goal as part of his overall superb midfield effort.
The decision to have Jack Gunston play as a defensive forward on Giants’ interceptor Sam Taylor was a masterstroke, Gunston booting two goals.
“It was a tough - he (Taylor) can take a grab leading up, he can drop off (and mark),” Gunston said of his task.
For the Giants, master tagger Toby Bedford largely had the better of Jai Newcombe, while Whitfield, Lachie Ash and Tom Green had plenty of the ball. Skipper Toby Greene, with two goals and 19 disposals, was also active, so was Hogan in his first game this season since breaking his thumb in a door of the team bus, but they couldn’t will their team across the line as they experienced their first loss of the season.
