Question mark over Shiels’ fitness
Hawks fans will be sweating on the fitness of star midfielder Liam Shiels after he failed to return after leaving the field during the third quarter with spasms in his lower back.
The Hawks will be hoping the triple-premiership player is right to face the Saints in Launceston this weekend and continue his good form this season after standing up to kick two crucial third-term goals to get the Hawks going against the Kangaroos, as well as a 31-disposal performance against the Demons a week earlier.
Hunger eluded Hawks early, Clarko says
Alastair Clarkson conceded after the game just how hard it is to maintain consistent hunger over a full 22 round season in such an even competition.
The Hawks followed up a 67-point win over the Demons with a first half performance against the Kangaroos that saw them trail by 57 points at the main break, with Clarkson predicting an up-and-down season for most clubs ahead.
“This is going to be a topsy-turvy season, it’s going to be hard to string consistent wins together,” Clarkson said post-match.
“(We just didn’t have) the same sort of desire and hunt for the contest as what the Kangaroos did.
“It’s bloody hard to maintain for 22 rounds of the season and sometimes you’re going to get nutted and unfortunately for us the first quarter today was one of those times.
“So that’s the magic formula, very few clubs have got it right no and, that’s why the competition’s so even.”
Read: Clarko calls for congestion change
Hawks’ depth shines in big VFL win
A number of senior Hawks starred in Box Hill’s 72-point win against Coburg, with both Brendan Whitecross and Jonathan O’Rourke racking up 34 disposals.
Ryan Schoenmakers kicked three goals in his return from an achilles complaint, as did fellow key forward Mitchell Lewis, who continues to edge closer to a debut after nine goals from the VFL’s opening three rounds this season.
Conor Nash was also amongst the goals with three of his own, while Teia Miles was named best-afield with 23 disposals
VFLW Hawks cap perfect pre-season
The Hawks’ VFLW side cruised to its third win of the pre-season with an 82-point win over Richmond on Saturday.
Julia Crockett-Grills was amongst the Hawks’ best, playing through the middle and on the wing, as the side kept the Tigers scoreless until the latter stages of the third term before winning 11.22 (88) to 1.0 (6).
