“We were lucky we were anywhere within a bull’s roar at half time.”
“We didn’t deserve to be five goals in front at three quarter time, but we ultimately got our just desserts, the best side won today.”
These comments from Hawthorn Coach Alastair Clarkson following his side’s 19-point loss to the Western Bulldogs on Sunday may have raised eyebrows throughout the Hawthorn faithful.
Up to three quarter time, the game was undeniably a slog, a war of attrition that wasn’t always the prettiest viewing.
Though, despite this, it felt as though the Hawks were up to what the nature of the game and the conditions demanded through the first three quarters.
But, a closer look at the numbers might suggest that the Hawks last quarter capitulation may have been more foreseeable than some may have thought.
Following Paul Puopolo’s goal at the 17-minute mark of the opening term, the Bulldogs then maintained the ball in their forward half for 76 per cent of the final 12 minutes of the quarter.
The Dogs had five scoring shots in this time and the Hawks were somewhat lucky that only two of these were goals.
Luke Beveridge’s men continued this form into the second stanza, completely owning the quarter.
They dominated the second term’s clearance count (11 to four) and inside 50 tally (23 to four) but, ultimately, only added two goals to the Hawks’ one as the sides went into the main break.
The third quarter was indisputably brilliant Hawthorn viewing as the team piled on seven goals to the Dogs two.
And then the fourth term happened.
The point is, despite taking a five-goal lead into the final break, the Hawks were somewhat “lucky” to be in that position.
Playing just one-and-a-half strong quarters of footy will rarely win you games, especially in 2019.
