Hawthorn’s VFLW team has suffered a Round 1 defeat, going down by 22 points to the NT Thunder on Sunday.
It started off as an exciting day for the Hawks with the unfurling their 2018 premiership flag, leaving the girls ready to finally kick off their premiership defence.
After an early opportunity for the Hawks, the Thunder were able to regain momentum with repeated inside 50’s, putting pressure on Hawthorn’s defence. Ebony Nixon was able to cut off two potential scores from the opposition with strong marks in the backline.
Thunder player Ailiish Considine was the first to break through the Hawks’ defence, scoring the first and only goal for the quarter.
After the first break Hawthorn were re-energised and quickly snapped up the momentum of the game. Pip Peschke, with a mark just outside the forward 50, kicked into Captain Tamara Luke who registered the Hawks’ first major of the day.
This gave her side a spark, and was followed by a thrilling moment in which Chantella Perera ran all the way from the backline to score a beautiful goal and pinch back the lead.
The see-sawing play continued and the Thunder again responded with two goals from Angela Foley and Janet Baird, which pushed their lead back out.
Sibley was able to sneak in her first goal of the game moments before the half time siren sounded, bringing it back to a seven-point margin at the main break.
After a goalless third term from both sides, the Thunder was able to regain control and run out the match in the final term.
Despite the continued effort from a series of key Hawks players, including a couple huge tackles from Rosie Dillion and a late goal from Sibley, the home side was unable to get back into the contest, with the final siren sealing the scores at 6.13 (49) to 4.3 (27).
Coach Paddy Hill said despite the disappointment, the focus will now on looking ahead to next week’s match.
“We gifted them with a few goals and it was very ‘un-hawthorn’ like in how we went about defending the ground, so we’ve got a few things to work on which we’ll address during the week.”
The Hawks will next face Collingwood at Victoria Park, 2:00pm, on Saturday the 18th of May.
HAWTHORN 0.1 3.1 3.2 4.3 (27)
NT THUNDER 1.3 3.8 5.10 6.13 (49)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Sibley 2, Perera, Luke
NT Thunder: Considine 2, Baird, Roberts, Foley, Hewitt
BEST:
Hawthorn: Luke, Perera, Nixon, Peschke, Dillon, Cormack
NT Thunder: Thorn, Randall, Varnhagen, Hewett, Foley, Roberts
