Hawthorn’s VFLW side has continued to impress, with a win over Richmond at Swinburne Centre on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams were chasing their third consecutive wins, but it was the Hawks who ran away four-point victors at the final siren.
It was a quiet first term with strong defensive pressure from both teams, as neither side was able to impact the scoreboard.
The second quarter was the Hawks’ strongest, as they demonstrated composure and executed in front of goals. Emily Gilder, Meg Hutchins and Clare O’Donnell combined to kick the first three goals of the afternoon. The Tigers replied with two quick goals, before Melissa Kuys kicked the final major of the term for the Hawks.
A change of weather led to a wet and slippery second half. The Hawks struggled to get clean hands on the ball, with the Tigers taking every opportunity to shut down their opponents. They managed to keep the visitors goalless in the third, as the home side kicked the only goal of the quarter and trailed by 10-points entering the final term.
Hawthorn defenders Jayde Van Dyk, Ebony Nixon and Jess Sibley were pivotal in combatting the Tigers’ forward pressure. The game reached a climax in the dying moments as a free to Richmond’s Kate Dixon narrowed the margin to just four points. But the Hawks managed to hold on, as the final siren sounded to seal the score 4.1(25) to 4.5(29).
Sarah McNamara celebrated her 150th game with a win, and it was a welcome return for Tahni Nestor following a few weeks on the sidelines with a broken leg.
The Hawks are back home at Box Hill City Oval next week to take on Williamstown on Sunday July 8th at 11.30am.
HAWTHORN 0.2 4.4 4.5 4.5 (29)
RICHMOND 0.0 2.0 3.1 4.1 (25)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Gilder, Hutchins, O’Donnell, Kuys
Richmond: Louttit, Gunn, Wakefield, Dixon
BEST
Hawthorn: Van Dyk, Hutchins, Beeson, Crockett-Grills, Sibley, Nixon
Richmond: Edmonds, Lynch, Monahan, Dempsey, Graham, Wakefield
