Round 1
Hawthorn v Geelong
April 6, MCG
HAWTHORN’S back-to-back premiership defence began in emphatic fashion.
In front of more than 70,000 people at the MCG, the Hawks fought back from a one-goal deficit at quarter time to record a 62-point triumph over Geelong.
Big recruit James Frawley made his first appearance in the brown and gold, playing an important role in defence alongside fellow tall backmen Josh Gibson and Brian Lake.
Jordan Lewis racked up 35 disposals and Luke Hodge 27, while Shaun Burgoyne’s 18 disposals off half back were all class.
Sharpshooter Luke Breust got his season off to a flying start, slotting five goals, while Jarryd Roughead and Paul Puopolo popped up with three apiece – the latter also soaring high in the third term for a spectacular mark.
The only downside was a hamstring injury to emerging midfielder Liam Shiels, which kept him sidelined for three weeks.
HAWTHORN 3.3 9.7 16.13 17.21 (123)
GEELONG 4.3 5.3 6.6 8.13 (61)
Goals: Breust 5, Puopolo 3, Roughead 3, McEvoy 2, Mitchell, Rioli, Gunston, Anderson
Best: Lewis, Mitchell, Burgoyne, Lake, Gibson, Puopolo, Ceglar, Breust
Injuries: Shiels (hamstring)
Substitute: Jed Anderson replaced Liam Shiels in the third quarter
Round 2
Essendon v Hawthorn
April 12, MCG
THE Hawks were brought straight back down to earth after their big Round 1 win, suffering a two-point defeat to Essendon.
Essendon had led by six goals midway through the second quarter, before the Hawks fought back to lead by more than two goals nearing the final siren.
But a late goal to Dons defender Cale Hooker turned the tables, and the siren prevented Luke Breust from running into an open goal to reverse the result.
For the Hawks, James Sicily made his AFL debut, while off-season recruit Jono O’Rourke made his first appearance in the brown and gold after crossing from GWS Giants.
Experienced campaigners Sam Mitchell and Josh Gibson were sidelined through injury, while sub Sicily entered the game in the first term after James Frawley suffered a pectoral injury.
Jordan Lewis (34 disposals) and Luke Hodge (30) were again among the Hawks’ best.
ESSENDON 2.2 7.3 9.4 12.6 (78)
HAWTHORN 1.3 3.5 7.8 11.10 (76)
Goals: Gunston 3, Puopolo 2, Breust 2, Rioli, Sicily, Hill, Roughead
Best: Gunston, Puopolo, Rioli, Hodge, Lewis, Burgoyne
Injuries: Sam Mitchell (corked calf) replaced in selected side by James Sicily, Burgoyne (cheek), Frawley (pectoral), Suckling (ankle)
Substitute: James Sicily replaced James Frawley in the first quarter
Round 3
Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs
April 19, Aurora Stadium
ALASTAIR Clarkson came up against former assistant Luke Beveridge for the first time, with the Hawks recording a comprehensive win against the Western Bulldogs.
Clarkson’s charges tallied a whopping 478 disposals to the Bulldogs’ 322, on their way to a 70-point win.
Skipper Luke Hodge racked up a career best 44 disposals, while his deputies Jordan Lewis (41 disposals) and Jarryd Roughead (28 disposals and seven goals) also had a day to remember.
Cyril Rioli flew high not once but twice in the final term, while 11 Hawks finished with 20 disposals or more.
After missing all of 2014 with an ACL injury, utility Brendan Whitecross made his senior return, picking up 12 disposals.
HAWTHORN 2.3 11.6 14.7 19.13 (127)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.1 6.1 8.6 8.9 (57)
Goals: Roughead 7, Breust 2, Hodge 2, Gunston 2, Mitchell, McEvoy, Birchall, Puopolo, Hartung, Rioli
Best: Hodge, Lewis, Roughead, Birchall, Duryea, Smith
Injuries: Bradley Hill (concussion) replaced in selected side by Billy Hartung
Substitute: Jed Anderson replaced Paul Puopolo in the fourth quarter
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