NORTH MELBOURNE 4.4 10.8 14.9 15.13 (103)
HAWTHORN 4.2 8.7 15.10 17.15 (117)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Black 2, Goldstein 2, Ziebell 2, Bastinac 2, Wright, Wells, Jacobs, Thomas, Harvey, Mullett, Macmillan
Hawthorn: Franklin 5, Roughead 4, Breust 3, Rioli 2, Smith, Hill, Hale
BEST
North Melbourne: Wells, Cunnington, Wright, Harvey, Ziebell, Goldstein
Hawthorn: Hodge, Mitchell, Franklin, Roughead, Lake, Rioli, Stratton, Smith
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Adams (knee) replaced in selected side by Sierakowski
Hawthorn: Lewis (corked hip) replaced in selected side by Shiels, Shiels (ankle)
SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: McKenzie replaced Tarrant in the third quarter
Hawthorn: Hill replaced Shiels in the second quarter
Official crowd: 33,039 at Etihad Stadium
The teams
HAWTHORN
B: Stratton Lake Guerra
HB: Burgoyne Gibson Birchall
C: Smith Hodge Savage
HF: Breust Franklin Shiels
F: Hale Roughead Rioli
FOLL: Bailey Sewell Mitchell
I/C: Whitecross Gunston Anderson Hill
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: Hansen L Delaney Mullett
HB: Wright Firrito Atley
C: Bastinac Wells Gibson
HF: Macmillan Tarrant Harvey
F: Thomas Petrie Black
FOLL: Goldstein Cunnington Ziebell
I/C: Greenwood Jacobs McKenzie Sierakowski
Hawthorn secured a top two finish with a 14-point win over North Melbourne in the last meeting between the two sides in Round 22 last year but it was by no means an easy victory.
The Hawks lost Vice-captain Jordan Lewis before the game with a hip injury and his replacement, midfielder Liam Shiels last just over a quarter after injuring his ankle.
It was a blow to Hawthorn, as Shiels was running with and doing a great job on North Melbourne match-winner Brent Harvey.
When Shiels went down, the Roos booted the next three goals unanswered including a big one to Harvey as he bumped Brian Lake then ran around him to kick a real team-lifter.
The Roos led by as much as 26 points in the second quarter thanks to a six goal to four term but that lead was eventually evaporated by a determined and spirited third quarter performance by Hawthorn.
In a fast-paced game under the roof at Etihad Stadium, the Hawks kicked seven goals to four in the third to take a narrow seven-point lead into the final break.
It was a brutal and thrilling final term that produced just three goals – two to Hawthorn, one to North Melbourne – which was enough for the Hawks to secure victory.
The Roos won the inside 50 count 52-50 but the Hawthorn defence held up well to stop their ability to score.
Captain Luke Hodge was outstanding as he controlled the backline with stints through the middle, picking up 21 disposals, taking eight marks and four one-percenters in a best on ground performance.
But it was Cyril Rioli who again inspired the Hawks to victory of the Roos, with two thrilling goals and two goal assists, while Lance Franklin (five) and Jarryd Roughead (four) booted nine goals between them.
Interestingly, only five Hawthorn players managed 20 or more disposals, with Sam Mitchell leading the way with 27.
For the Roos, Aaron Black, Todd Goldstein, Jack Zieball and Ryan Bastinac each booted two goals each, while Daniel Well was at his blistering best with 27 disposals, three inside 50s and two goal assists. He was their best player.
What the coaches said
Hawthorn’s Alastair Clarkson: "We were really pleased how we were down and out at different stages through the second quarter and found a way to get ourselves back into the contest in the third quarter, and then just hold them at bay in the last part of the game.
"It was pleasing to get that win and it obviously guarantees us a top-two position which we've worked hard all season to try and achieve."
North Melbourne’s Brad Scott: “It's incredibly frustrating because we put ourselves in a winning position. I thought we did enough to win the game.
“Again, it's twice in a row against Hawthorn that we've won the inside 50 count.”
