After Hawthorn’s 7-point win over GWS at the MCG on Sunday, hawthornfc.com.au takes a look at the five main points to take out of the game.

1. What a game from Litherland
He was originally left out of the team but selected when Ben Stratton went down with injury and Angus Litherland made his presence felt.

Playing in just his third senior game, after making his AFL debut in Round 2, Litherland was outstanding in defence, particularly in the last quarter when he won crucial one-on-one battles.

Litherland spent time on gun GWS forward Jeremy Cameron and rotated on other Giants forward but the majority of his impressive game was done when on Cameron.

During the game, Litherland twice saved certain goals and in the last quarter, when his team needed him, he played with composure beyond his years. He won key one-on-one battles as they tried to isolate him deep in defence, then did the same further up the ground.

Not only did he win the contest, he also provided run off half-back and cleared the ball after beating his man.

He did some a few errors during the game, but that only makes his ability to have a positive impact following those all the more impressive. He never once dropped his head.

He finished the game with an equal team-high eight tackles and 19 disposals at 84 per cent efficiency and five rebound 50s.

The win on Sunday could be the making of the rest of his season.

2. Hawks lacked polish
While the conditions were wet and slippery, the Hawks haven’t used that as an excuse for their poor ball use in Sunday’s win.

It was an uncharacteristic performance by the Hawks with ball in hand as they constantly missed targets across all areas of the ground. Their disposal efficiency was 68 per cent for the game – Hawthorn’s second-worst percentage for the year (used it with 66 per cent efficiency against Essendon in Round 2).

It was only the second time this season the Hawks have gone below 70 per cent.

Brad Sewell described his team’s ball use after game as “not good enough”.

Given the reputation of the Hawks as one of the best kicking teams in the league and the stats reflect that, expect to see a much better execution from the Hawks when they take on the Eagles in Tasmania on Saturday.

The Hawks had a number of inexperienced players in the side on Sunday, including five players who have played less than five games.

But that’s taking nothing away from GWS, whose pressure around the ground was outstanding all game. They finished with a massive 104 tackles.

The Hawks will learn from it.

3. The importance of hunting the ball and your opposition
GWS outhunted Hawthorn on Sunday and that’s the reason why, combined with Hawthorn’s poor use of the footy, they were able to almost pull off an unlikely victory.

There isn’t much, if anything, in football that can elevate a team more than effort, and GWS had that against the Hawks on Sunday.

From the outset, the Giants hunted the footy and their opposition - they outworked the Hawks.

While the contested possession count was even for the majority of the game – 43-44 in favour of GWS at quarter time, 81-80 Hawthorn’s way at half time, 115-120 to GWS at three-quarter time – and even at 150 at the final siren, it was the Giants’ ability to tackle manically the caused the Hawks issues.

Hawthorn was outtackled 82-104 for the game, including 54 GWS tackles in the first half to Hawthorn’s 38.

The Hawks are actually ranked 18^th in the competition for tackles but that’s probably more due to the game style of Hawthorn and given they possess then ball more than any other side.

But, the Hawthorn players will have learnt that despite being one of the top sides, the importance of hunting your opposition rather than letting them hunt you is the key to winning games.

4. Smith the forward
If the Hawks ever get into a situation where they’re in quick need of a goal or two, they can now swing wingman Isaac Smith forward.

The speedy midfielder added another string to his bow on Sunday, playing the majority of the game as a forward where he booted an equal game-high four goals.

Smith also gathered 23 disposals and was one Hawk who showed his class in the difficult conditions, running at 87 per cent efficiency.

He kicked two goals in the first half, including a crucial snap on his right boot on the eve of half time.

Smith then kicked another with a minute to play in the third term to give the Hawks some momentum heading into the last quarter, leading by a point.

But his most important came mid-way through the last, when he converted a set shot to give the Hawks a two-goal buffer for the first time in over a quarter.

He was outstanding.

5. Welcome back Brad Sewell
In his second game for the year, Sewell was back to the Brad Sewell we know, winning clearances and the hard ball.

Of his 23 disposals, eight of those were contested, while he had five clearances and six inside 50s.

But he was one of our best tacklers on the night, laying seven to be the third-best Hawk on the ground.

It was an encouraging performance by the veteran who has spent the majority of the season out with a hamstring injury. He, along with Shaun Burgoyne and Luke Hodge shouldered the midfield in the absence of Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis, and Sewell did a great job.

For that performance to come in just his second game bodes well for what he can produce in the coming weeks as he fully acclimatises to the pace of senior footy.