1. Josh Gibson kicked a goal – and a few Eagles' behinds too
After 127 games, the triple-premiership Hawk finally kicked a goal in the brown and gold. It was just his third career goal in 191 games and the cherry on top of one of the best games of his career, ending with an amazing 44 disposals - the equal most of any Hawk in history. In the first quarter Josh Gibson had the ball on a string. He had 17 disposals, a ridiculous number for a defender in a team that kept the opposition scoreless. He was able to sag off his man, push up the ground and either mark (he took four in the first quarter), accept a handball (seven handballs received) and kick the ball inside 50, playing the high defender role to perfection. Gibson uses every limb to get the job done, spoiling, getting a leg in, or a shoulder on his opponent. It's easy to understand why he has two club champion awards in premiership years with Hawthorn.
2. Where does Hawthorn sit in the premiership race?
The Hawks unfurled its third successive premiership flag at 2.55pm. Just one hour later, at quarter-time, they had re-announced themselves as a genuine premiership contender with a 26-point quarter-time lead. Sam Mitchell remains a champion and the system hard to toss. With each team missing seven players from last year's Grand Final, the game was expected to be different but it was a carbon copy of the decider six months ago (even the 46-point margin was the same) with Hawthorn jumping the Eagles and never letting them back into the game. The Hawks finished with 457 disposals (165 more than the Eagles) and answered the question: they remain flag favourites.
3. Lewis Jetta's bad games must improve
The Sydney Swans premiership player will take time to adjust to his new team, however too often he goes completely missing from games. In the first half, Jetta was invisible, gathering just four touches, always in tight, appearing to wait for the game to open up for him rather than using his run and pace to make the difference. He began the second half with a shocking kick and Paul Puopolo ran him down early in the final quarter, finishing with just eight disposals for the game. He will be better on the wide expanses of Domain Stadium but he needs to do more when things aren't going his team's way.
4. Young Hawks show their credentials
After the opening round loss to Geelong, Jack Gunston assured AFL.com.au the new blood coming through could get the job done. On Sunday against last year's runners-up, James Sicily and Jonathon O'Rourke proved their teammate right. From the opening minute, they looked more assured with O'Rourke hunting the ball and Sicily providing a key target up forward. Sicily took three marks inside 50 and kicked three goals in the first half, finishing with four majors and five marks inside 50 (Hawthorn took six marks inside 50 against Geelong), while O'Rourke had 18 disposals and showed poise.
5. Has West Coast improved?
The Eagles were missing Dom Sheed, Chris Masten, Sharrod Wellingham and Xavier Ellis through injury but the Hawks' injury list is longer so it was no excuse. The Eagles were just out-hunted early and could not get their hands on the ball. Recruits Jack Redden and Lewis Jetta will make a difference but if they can't win the ball in tight then their midfield looks second rate. Having half the number of inside 50s compared to the opposition (68-34) does not give you much of a chance.
