The Rundown

The Hawks seemed set for a percentage booster when they kicked seven unanswered goals in the game's opening 20 minutes, and nine of the first 11 majors to lead by 48 points at the 13-minute mark of the second term. 

However, the Roos rallied, kicking four answered goals before half-time, to pull the margin back to a more manageable 23 points.

North Melbourne continued their positive run, kicking two of the first three goals of the second half to close to within 13 points midway through the third quarter.

But that was as close as North could get, with the Hawks kicking the final four goals of the game to close out a 29-point victory.

The Star

Isaac Smith gathered 33 disposals and provided the important outside run that Hawks fans have come to expect in recent years. But what was just as noticeable and influential about the speedy wingman’s game was his work in the contest, as he laid seven tackles throughout the game.

The Moment

Midway through the third term, the Roos seemingly had all the momentum and had closed to within 13 points after consecutive goals to Drew Petrie and Lindsay Thomas.

They looked set to mount another attack when a short pass was put down Andrew Swallow's throat at half-forward. But the North skipper inexplicably botched a simple mark and the Hawks were able to quickly transition the ball into their forward 50, resulting in an important Luke Breust goal.

North did not score another goal after that for the game, despite regular forays forward that seemed to be ruined by similar skill errors.

Read: Match preview - how will these two teams fare one year on?

The Coach

“We started the game being able to defend North really, really well, in terms of the way they want to move the ball. We were able to stop that early, but then we gave them a couple of easy goals in the second quarter…but again, we were a little bit better in the last 40 minutes of the game”.- Alastair Clarkson

 

HAWTHORN                8.4   9.7   11.9   14.12 (96)
NORTH MELBOURNE   1.0   6.2   8.7     8.9     (57)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Rioli 3, Breust 2, Puopolo 2, Gunston, Ceglar, Langford, Lewis, Burton, Hill, Birchall
North Melbourne: Petrie 3, Gibson 2, Goldstein, Nahas, Thomas 

BEST 
Hawthorn: Smith, Mitchell, Hill, Birchall, Gibson, Lewis, Rioli
North Melbourne: Tarrant, Ziebell, Dal Santo, Petrie, Gibson, Macmillan 

INJURIES 
Hawthorn: Duryea (knee/ankle), Hartung (leg)
North Melbourne: Hansen (ankle) 

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Findlay, Jeffery, McInerney

Official crowd: 50,657 at the MCG