After Hawthorn’s 50-point win over Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday, hawthornfc.com.au takes a look at the five main points to take out of the game.
1. Scoring against outstanding defence
In 2014 the Demons have been very hard to score against, such has been the strict defensive expectations coach Paul Roos has placed upon his players.
In fact, the average score opposition teams have managed against Melbourne this year is a measly 83 points but the Hawks found a way through that defence on Saturday.
Again showing their offensive power despite missing Jack Gunston, the Hawks booted the second-highest score against the Demons this year with 115.
Jarryd Roughead led the way once again with five goals, while Luke Breust chipped in with three as the Hawks shared the goals amongst nine of its 22 players.
From 51 inside 50s, the Hawks had 30 scoring shots – so they barely wasted an opportunity, too.
2. Lewis’s importance set to rise
For years Jordan Lewis has probably been the one standing in shadows as Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell were awarded most of the accolades but that now seems a distant memory.
Lewis was best on ground again for the Hawks in the win over the Demons, picking up a game-high 34 disposals and a game-high eight clearances.
Importantly, he also laid the second-most tackles of any player on the ground with seven and the most of any Hawk.
The Hawthorn vice-captain remains Hawthorn’s best clearance player this season, with his work around the stoppages what has made him one of the Hawks’ most valuable players.
With three tough weeks ahead as the Hawks prepare to face Fremantle, Geelong and Collingwood to close the home-and-away rounds, players like Lewis – hard and tough in the clinches – are worth their weight in gold.
While he has been exceptional for Hawthorn this season in a year he has described as a career-best, you get the feeling the best of Jordan Lewis is yet to come when the heat of finals is on.
3. Langford hard to shift
It has been the case all season as Hawthorn’s depth has shone in the adversity of a mounting injury list but young midfielder Will Langford pressed his case to remain in the senior team on Saturday.
After playing nine of the first 10 matches of the year, Langford found himself on the outer between rounds 12-16 before forcing his way back into the team in Round 17.
Since then, he has put in a string of impressive performances that culminated in arguably the best outing of his career against the Demons.
Langford finished with 27 disposals, four clearances and four tackles but it was his composure with ball in hand that showed he might just be ready for finals-like footy.
When tackled he found a way to get free and when the pressure was on he found space when there was none. He will be tough to shift.
4. Smith’s weapon of a new kind
He’s known for his dashing runs through the midfield but Isaac Smith had added another string to his bow and one that’s just as damaging.
While he has played mostly on the wing throughout his career so far, Smith has been sent forward at times this year and relished in the role.
Energetic in life and in the way he attacks his footy, the hard-running Hawk has the football smarts to make him a dangerous prospect around goals and have proved that this year.
After booting another two goals against the Demons on Saturday to go along with 19 disposals, Smith has taken his goal tally to 21 for the year.
Saturday’s effort has taken him to fourth on Hawthorn’s goal kicking leaderboard, ahead of Cyril Rioli who has kicked 20 goals in an injury-interrupted year.
He has kicked at least one goal in seven of his last nine matches and even booted four against GWS in Round 11.
5. Roughead takes the Coleman lead
On a goal kicking note, it’s worth mentioning Jarryd Roughead took the outright lead in the Coleman Medal on Saturday with another bag of five goals against the Demons.
Following hauls of six and four in the last two weeks, Roughead has rocketed up the goal-kicking leaderboard, overtaking Port Adelaide’s Jay Schulz with 55 goals for the year.
Roughead has had another outstanding year for the Hawks after winning the medal last season with 68 goals.