1. Goddard's blunder
Jack Gunston made the most of a Brendon Goddard howler in the final term to put the Bombers on the back foot. Kicking out after a behind, with the Hawks eight points clear, the Bombers' veteran overstepped the chalk of the goal square. Hawthorn players came from everywhere to let the 331-gamer know about it before the resulting ball-up which spilled out to Gunston to convert with a soccer from mid-air. Bombers fans had flashbacks to last year's round 14 loss to Sydney, Goddard's kick-in smothered by Tom Papley in the dying stages to hand the Swans victory.
2. Will Mitchell ever get tagged?
Tom Mitchell exploded out of the blocks and threatened to break every record in sight as John Worsfold refused to send an opponent his way. A massive 29 disposals, 10 clearances and five inside 50s in the first half alone would have likely had Gillon McLachlan preparing to read, "T.Mitchell: Three Votes." Despite racing to 33 disposals early in the third term, Mitchell plateaued as Essendon mounted its assault. In the final term, Mitchell collected eight touches to finish with 43. For much of the day he ran without an opponent and even spent period after the main break across half forward.
3. No advantage?
With the game in Hawthorn's keeping late in the final term, Liam Shiels laid a big tackle on David Zaharkis to win a holding the ball free kick at half-forward. Sensing a chance to pump the ball inside 50, youngster James Worpel attempted to take advantage before he was dispossessed. The Bombers moved the ball forward with Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti's quick-thinking efforts in the middle of the ground ending in a two-on-two in attack. Mitch Brown crashed the contest and Jake Stringer held his ground to run into an open goal. Minutes later, Worpel got his revenge, holding his feet in a one-on-with Michael Hurley to kick the match-sealing goal.
3. Gunston boots a bag
As Jack Gunston (five goals) led the charge in the front half, a number of Hawthorn premiership teammates recorded quiet days at the office. When Essendon controlled large parts of the early running, Gunston looked like the man carrying the Hawks on his shoulders in attack. Luke Breust shrugged off Ben McNiece for three goals in an otherwise lean day, while Jarryd Roughead (14 disposals), Paul Puopolo (11) and Ryan Schoenmakers (eight) combined for just one major.
5. Bombers' MCG hoodoo
Essendon won't be asking for more MCG matches anytime soon. Heading into the game with just one win from six matches at the venue this year, the Bombers failed to take their chances. Kicking five of the first six goals of the third term to set up a 13-point lead and they looked set to end their third term and MCG hoodoo before allowing the Hawks back into the game. Hawthorn's ledger improved to 6-2 at the home of football, ahead of a bout with Geelong at the same ground in seven days' time.
