HAWTHORN 6.0 12.2 16.4 19.9 (123)
WEST COAST 6.2 7.6 12.7 16.7 (103)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Roughead 5, Gunston 5, Breust 3, Franklin 2, Savage 2, Lewis, Simpkin
West Coast: Kennedy 5, LeCras 2, Shuey 2, Selwood, Naitanui, Masten, Darling, Cox, Dalziell, Priddis
BEST
Hawthorn: Roughead, Hodge, Breust, Lake, Mitchell, Franklin, Gunston
West Coast: Cox, Kennedy, Selwood, Gaff, Shuey, Mackenzie
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Puopolo (quad tightness) replaced in selected side by Ellis, Birchall (right knee)
West Coast: Hurn (right ankle)
Official crowd: 32,567 at Etihad Stadium
Who played?
HAWTHORN
B: B.Stratton B.Lake B.Guerra
HB: G.Birchall J.Gibson L.Hodge
C: S.Savage S.Mitchell B.Hill
HF: J. Gunston L.Franklin J.Lewis
F: D.Hale J.Roughead L.Breust
FOLL: M.Bailey B.Sewell S.Burgoyne
I/C: T.Duryea J.Simpkin L.Shiels X. Ellis
WEST COAST
B: S.Butler D.Glass M.Brown
HB: S.Hurn E.Mackenzie B.Waters
C: A.Gaff S.Selwood A.Embley
HF: L.Shuey J.Kennedy C.Masten
F: M.LeCras D.Cox J.Darling
FOLL: N.Naitanui M.Priddis D.Kerr
I/C: B.Dalziell P.McGinnity M.Rosa B.Wilson
Despite losing Paul Puopolo just minutes before the first bounce, Hawthorn defeated a gallant West Coast by 20 points at Etihad Stadium in Round 13 last year.
In one of West Coast’s best performances of the year after battling injury and form worries, the Hawks were able to absorb their challenge and pressure to eventually kick away to secure their eleventh straight victory.
In Alastair Clarkson’s 200th AFL game as coach, the Hawks and Eagles combined for 12 goals (six each) in the opening term before the Hawks exerted their authority by kicking 6.2 to 1.4 in the second term to set up what turned out to be a match-winning 26-point lead.
The Hawks were actually outscored in the second half – 7.7 to 9.1 – as the Eagles pressed their claim to causing an upset against the eventual premiers but the Hawks managed to steady thanks to five goal hauls from Jarryd Roughead and Jack Gunston and 25 disposals and four tackles from skipper, Luke Hodge.
In the end, it was the efficiency of Hawthorn going forward that won them the game on the fast track at Etihad Stadium.
Gunston and Roughead booted 10 goals between them, while Luke Breust chipped in with three and Lance Franklin and Shane Savage booted two each.
Watch Roughead's five goals here and Gunston's here.
The Hawks found a way to win despite having fewer inside 50s than its opponent.
West Coast’s forward line, meanwhile, struggled as it had done all year, with spearhead Kennedy kicking five and Mark LeCras two but their scoring options fell away after that. Jack Darling failed to fire, managing just one goal, while resting ruckmen Dean Cox (two scoring shots) and Nic Naitanui (one shot) also failed to fire in their roles up forward, managing to kick just one goal each.
For the Hawks, Roughead, Hodge and Breust were best, with Brian Lake and Josh Gibson also outstanding down back. Sam Mitchell also had 24 disposals in the midfield.
For the Eagles, Kennedy was their best with his five goals, while Luke Shuey was the leading possession-getter on the ground with 33. Andrew Gaff had 29 disposals and laid five tackles and Matt Priddis was again among their best with 27 touches, nine tackles, five clearances and four inside 50s.
