In a Tweet

The Rundown

Hosting GWS at their second home in Launceston, the Hawks took it right up to the second-placed Giants early on, holding a one-point lead at the first break.

The Hawks conceded the fifth of five consecutive goals during the second quarter as the Giants threatened to take the game away from the hosts.

But fighting back, the Hawks put on six of the next nine to lead GWS by as much 21 points early in the final quarter.

The momentum continued to change hands, with the Giants once again piling on five unanswered goals to take pole position with a 13-point lead in the latter stages of the final term.

Mustering one last charge, the Hawks found two late goals via Luke Breust and Will Langford as they scrapped their way to level the scores.

With only twelve seconds remaining on the clock, the Hawks sent the ball forward from the centre bounce with Ryan Burton knocking a bouncing ball through for a rushed behind but not before the final siren sounded, denying the Hawks a last-gasp win.

The Star

Prolific midfielder Tom Mitchell continued his outstanding first season with the Hawks with another outing of more than 30 disposals – this time gathering 39.

The onballer also contributed team-high figures for clearances (10) and tackles (nine) as well as kicking a goal, earning the full three Brownlow votes.

The Moment

Sitting six points down in the dying stages of the final term the ball was locked amongst a flood of players in the Hawks’ forward 50.

With just 18 seconds left on the clock the ball dribbled loose out to Will Langford who gathered and hurriedly snapped a kick that appeared to be safely falling well short of the goal line, before bouncing high over Giants defender Heath Shaw to go through for a goal, drawing scores level.

The Coach

"To be two goals down late in the game and for us to keep fighting it out and find a way to draw the game at that point in time, as I said, if the game goes for a second longer, we win."

  • Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson

 

HAWTHORN                                5.2    6.6    11.12   14.13 (97)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY     5.1    8.3    10.3     15.7   (97)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Langford 3, Breust 2, Henderson 2, Duryea 2, Mitchell, O’Brien, Roughead, Stewart, Burgoyne
Greater Western Sydney: Patton 5, Smith 2, Scully 2, Whitfield, Lobb, Mzungu, Cameron, Ward, Kelly 

BEST 
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Sicily, McEvoy, Hartung, Burgoyne, Burton
Greater Western Sydney: Patton, Ward, Kelly, Shiel, Tomlinson, Scully 

INJURIES 
Hawthorn: Nil

Greater Western Sydney: Josh Kelly (ankle)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Stevic, Stephens, Mitchell

Official crowd: 12,156 at University of Tasmania Stadium