HAWTHORN 6.1 12.7 15.10 21.14 (140)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.1 5.2 8.2 9.3 (57)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Roughead 5, Gunston 3, Franklin 2, Burgoyne 2, Mitchell, Hodge, Shiels, Smith, Bailey, Hale, Puopolo, Sewell, Lewis
GWS: Cameron 4, Palmer, Adams, Bugg, Miles, Scully
BEST
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Roughead, Lewis, Hale, Burgoyne, Gunston
GWS: Coniglio, Cameron, Mohr, Palmer, Ward, Adams
SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Michael Osborne replaced by Paul Puopolo during the third quarter
GWS: Lachie Whitfied replaced by Dylan Shiel at half-time
Official crowd: 10,513 at Aurora Stadium
Who played?
HAWTHORN
B: Duryea, Lake, Luke Hodge
HB: Burgoyne, Stratton, Birchall
C: Smith, Mitchell, Puopolo
HF: Osborne, Franklin, Shiels
F: Hale, Roughead, Breust
Foll: Bailey, Sewell, Lewis
I/C: Gunston, Guerra, Spangher, Simpkin
GWS GIANTS
B: Gilham, Bruce, Corr
HB: Kennedy, Mohr, Greene
C: Whitfield, Callan, Whiley
HF: Bugg, Tomlinson, Palmer
F: Adams, Cameron, Smith
Foll: Giles, Scully, Coniglio
I/C: Brogan, Miles, Golds, Shiel
Hawthorn cruised to an 83-point victory over the Giants in Tasmania in the last meeting between the two sides, in Round 8 last season.
With a 12 goal to five opening half, the game was well and truly in Hawthorn’s control but a nine goal to four second half saw the Hawks convincingly record their second win over the Giants from two starts.
The class of the Hawthorn side rose to the top as they easily worked the ball into space in the first half to extinguish any hope of a Gaint upset.
The Hawks had 142 uncontested possessions to half time, while the Giants had just 90 despite leading the tackle count 44-31.
Hawthorn also dominated the clearances 16-9 at quarter time and 25-19 at the main break.
The Hawthorn midfield continued their dominance in the second half, with Sam Mitchell putting in another best on ground performance with 35 disposals, four inside 50s and a goal.
Jordan Lewis was also prominent in the middle with 27 touches, 11 clearances and six inside 50s, while Shaun Burgoyne had 23 disposals.
Up forward, it was Jarryd Roughead who inflicted most of the damage, booting five goals, while Jack Gunston chipped in with three and Lance Franklin two.
The Hawks had 13 individual goal kickers on the day.
For the Giants, Jeremy Cameron was a shining light up forward, comprehensively beating his opponent, Matt Spangher in his first game for the Hawks.
Cameron booted four goals as he showed his class, while Stephen Coniglio was outstanding in the midfield with 28 disposals, five clearances and four tackles.
Rhys Palmer was also among his team’s best, tagging dominant Hawthorn half back Grant Birchall and restricting him to just 14 disposals – his lowest possession count for the season to that point after making a brilliant start to the year.
What the coaches said
Hawthorn’s Alastair Clarkson: “We need to continue to rehearse some of the things in our game.
You’d think that our game worked pretty smoothly today, having an 83-point win, but there were aspects of our game, particularly in the third quarter, that we weren’t really pleased with.
“All we can do is keep refining those things.”
Greater Western Sydney’s Kevin Sheedy: “Our lost concentration in the last few minutes of the first half cost us badly and the last quarter (as well).
“It’s something I find awkward to address at times, mainly because of the youth and inexperience of the group.”
