Round 14
Collingwood v Hawthorn
July 3, MCG
CYRIL Rioli was at his brilliant best in Hawthorn’s hard-fought 10-point against Collingwood under lights in Round 14.
The magician kicked five goals – and set up the match-winner when he stripped the ball off an opponent at half-back and fired out a handball which led to Luke Breust kicking the simplest of goals with two minutes on the clock.
It was the Hawks’ eighth consecutive win against the Pies – but it didn’t come without a fight.
After leading for much of the game, the Hawks were headed by the Pies midway through the final term, before regaining their advantage late in the piece.
While Rioli was brilliant, he was one of many Hawks to have a big say on the contest.
Jordan Lewis and Sam Mitchell were prolific, winning 36 and 34 disposals respectively; while sub Matt Suckling had a big say with a long-range last quarter goal.
Liam Shiels was also influential with 29 disposals, while defender Ben Stratton shut down the dangerous Jamie Elliott.
Both sides paid tribute to late Adelaide coach Phil Walsh after the match. Walsh passed away tragically in the early hours of the morning of the game.
COLLINGWOOD 3.5 7.7 9.16 12.19 (91)
HAWTHORN 4.2 8.5 12.7 15.11 (101)
Goals: Rioli 5, Breust 3, Shiels 2, Gunston 2, Schoenmakers, Smith, Suckling
Best: Rioli, Lewis, Mitchell, Hill, Shiels, Stratton, Smith
Injuries: Breust (groin), Smith (eye)
Substitute: Matt Spangher replaced by Matt Suckling at three-quarter time
Round 15
Hawthorn v Fremantle Dockers
July 12, Aurora Stadium
HAWTHORN made a massive statement in Round 15, scoring a 72-point victory over the ladder-leading Fremantle Dockers at Aurora Stadium.
From start to finish, the Hawks were on top.
They racked up 119 more disposals than the Dockers, 19 more clearances and 16 more inside-50s in a sterling display.
Skipper Luke Hodge had a day to remember, kicking three goals and amassing 31 disposals, but the Hawks had strong contributors right across the board.
Josh Gibson marshalled the defence, picking up 27 disposals, while Matt Spangher stood tall in his second senior match back from injury and Brian Lake was also impressive.
The Hawks had 10 individual goalkickers, with Luke Breust kicking four and both Ben McEvoy and Paul Puopolo chipping in with two.
“The application of the group, to a man, was first-class and we overcame a formidable opponent," Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said.
"We placed a lot of pressure on the Fremantle ball carriers and they could never really get any flow in their game."
HAWTHORN 4.3 7.6 13.8 17.13 (115)
FREMANTLE 1.2 1.4 3.7 6.7 (43)
Goals: Breust 4, Hodge 3, McEvoy 2, Puopolo 2, Duryea, Smith, Hill, Hale, Lewis, Mitchell,
Best: Mitchell, Hodge, Gibson, Birchall, Breust, Shiels
Injuries: Taylor Duryea (shoulder)
Substitute: Taylor Duryea replaced by Billy Hartung in the third quarter.
Round 16
Sydney Swans v Hawthorn
July 18, ANZ Stadium
HAWTHORN delivered another big statement in Round 16, posting an 89-point win against Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium.
The Hawks ran riot in the first term, kicking six goals to none, before a Lance Franklin-inspire comeback reduced the margin to five goals at the major break.
But a strong second half – in which the Hawks kicked 14 goals to the Swans’ three – helped seal the Hawks’ seventh consecutive victory since their loss to the same opponent in Round 7.
Sidelined for two weeks after having a melanoma removed from his lip, Jarryd Roughead returned with a bang, slotting five goals.
Jack Gunston also snagged four and Cyril Rioli three – to go with 20 disposals and 10 tackles in another superb night for the star Hawk.
Defender Angus Litherland kicked his maiden AFL goal, while Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge and Grant Birchall continued to find plenty of the footy, finishing with 28, 30 and 27 disposals respectively.
SYDNEY SWANS 0.2 4.5 6.12 7.15 (57)
HAWTHORN 6.1 9.5 16.7 23.8 (146)
Goals: Roughead 5, Gunston 4, Rioli 3, Breust 2, McEvoy 2, Hale, Smith, Litherland, Schoenmakers, Shiels, Puopolo, Suckling
Best: Rioli, Birchall, Hodge, Roughead, Mitchell, Gunston
Injuries: Bradley Hill (corked calf) replaced in selected side by Angus Litherland
Substitute: Billy Hartung replaced David Hale in the last quarter
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