In a Tweet

The Rundown

Sitting in 10th place with eight wins and six losses to its name, Hawthorn was desperately clinging to contact with the top eight as it rounded the turn for the final month and a half of the season. Following a week that had brought the retirement of Cyril Rioli, the Hawks were determined to get back on the winners’ list after a disappointing loss to the Giants the week before. A tight opening half saw the Bulldogs hold a two-point lead at halftime. But the third quarter saw the Hawks put on an absolute onslaught as they piled on seven goals to the Dogs’ none. A similar five goal to two final term saw Alastair Clarkson’s side run away 63-point victors.

The Star

Luke Breust was clearly best on ground in this Round 16 match-up, as he equalled a career-high with six goals. The 27-year-old was dominant all over the ground, adding 24 disposals, eight marks and seven tackles to his goal kicking haul to deservedly be awarded the three Brownlow votes.

Read: The Art of Always

The Moment

Having failed to reach the 100-point threshold in their previous ten games, the typical Hawks’ free-flowing, high-scoring style had been somewhat lacking across the last two months. But in the opening term, Breust burst out of the blocks to boot four goals. It seemed a turning point not only for this game but for the next month, as the Hawks broke the triple-digit barrier in three of their next four games as well.

The Coach

"We were really pleased with the endeavour of the players. As the game wore on, we were able to stop the Western Bulldogs' bounce from half-back. I was pleased with our work around the ball. They're a clever side at controlling the ball around the contest but we tackled them really strongly and it was pleasing to gain some ascendancy in that area.” - Clarkson

 

WESTERN BULLDOGS             4.1   7.4    7.5   9.5   (59)                  
HAWTHORN                           6.0   7.2   14.6  19.8   (122)          

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Wallis 3, Hunter 2, Schache, Gowers, Biggs, Daniel
Hawthorn: Breust 6, Roughead 4, Gunston 4, Smith 2, Morrison, O’Meara, Howe

BEST 
Western Bulldogs: Johannisen, Hunter, McLean, Dunkley, Crozier
Hawthorn: Breust, Gunston, O’Meara, Howe, Smith, Sicily, Shiels

INJURIES 
Western Bulldogs: Hunter (ankle), Naughton (ankle)
Hawthorn: McEvoy (head)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Dalgleish, Harris, McInerney

Official crowd: 35,320 at Etihad Stadium