In a Tweet

It was a fierce, physical contest but we’ve taken a 9-point win! Sicily the star up forward, Lewis & Mitchell industrious in the midfield.

The Rundown

A gutsy performance from Hawthorn downed an inaccurate North Melbourne side by nine points at Etihad Stadium in Round 13.

The game was fiery early, with both sides as keen to do some pushing and shoving as much as get their hands on the ball.

North Melbourne led by less than a straight kick at the main break, but the Hawks eventually got on top in the second half despite the margin not blowing out by more than 20 points.

James Sicily showed tremendous poise under intense pressure, kicking five crucial goals in what was an inaccurate night for goal kickers.

Jordan Lewis also led from the front with 31 disposals in one of the fiercest home and away games played this season.

The Star

James Sicily was the difference between both sides, booting five goals in a best on ground performance which also earned him a NAB Rising Star nomination.

The Moment

With less than a minute to go, Paul Puopolo laid a great tackle on North’s Jamie Macmillan who played for a free kick. Puopolo won a holding the ball free kick instead and calmly slotted the goal to ice the game.

The Coach

“That was a great victory… to stand up to that sort of physical pressure was outstanding.” – Alastair Clarkson

NORTH MELBOURNE   3.5      4.11      7.15     11.18   (84)
HAWTHORN                 1.2      5.3      10.4       14.9   (93)                      

GOALS
North Melbourne: Thomas 3, Petrie 3, Wood 2, Brown, Harvey, Ziebell
Hawthorn: Sicily 5, Rioli 2, Hartung 2, O'Brien, Breust, Smith, Lewis, Puopolo

BEST 
North Melbourne: Wells, Tarrant, Dal Santo, Wood, Atley, Ziebell
Hawthorn: Sicily, Mitchell, Duryea, Lewis, Rioli, Birchall

INJURIES 
North Melbourne: McDonald (hamstring), Wells (ankle)
Hawthorn: Nil 

Reports: Nil 

Umpires: Nicholls, Findlay, Ryan, Fleer

Official crowd: 37, 073 at Etihad Stadium