HAWTHORN has arrived as apremiership chance.
That’s the upshot of theHawks dramatic eight-point win over the in-form Collingwood at a pulsatingTelstra Dome.
In a game that see-sawed allnight, Hawthorn found enough when it mattered most after a four-quarterarm-wrestle with the gallant Pies. The 15.5 (95) to 12.15 (87) win was Hawthorn’sfirst over Collingwood since 2003.
Led by four goals to LanceFranklin from just eight possessions, the tireless work of on-ballers SamMitchell (28 possessions), Ben McGlynn, Luke Hodge, Brad Sewell, Clinton Youngand a resolute defence, the Hawks prevailed in a game that could well be lookedback upon as the making of a young team on the up.
In front of a monster homeand away crowd of 50,248, the game lived up to the hype from the openingbounce. The attack on the man and ball was fierce as both sides threw themselvesat contests with seemingly little regard for personal safety.
Young got the Hawks on theboard with a raking left-foot goal two minutes in and with Jordan Lewis, Sewelland Mitchell doing well in the middle, the early signs were good. Down back,the match-ups pitted Campbell Brown against Alan Didak, while Trent Croad hadthe task of quelling athletic Magpie forward Travis Cloke in what would becomeone of the game’s most absorbing duels.
Up forward, Jarryd Rougheadprovided a target for his midfield but was struggling to convert possessionsinto scores. With Franklin well held by Tyson Goldsack early, the Hawksrelied heavily on their midfield to manufacture a score.
The first-half pressure madefor low scoring as both sides struggled to find targets going forward.
Rick Ladson found a way when hegoaled after receiving a 50-metre penalty at the 12-minute mark of the secondterm to wrest the lead off the Magpies, who were struggling with inaccuracy.
When Tim Boyle broke free ofShane Wakelin to post another at the 20-minute mark, it was the Hawks by sevenpoints.
The Pies cut the marginthanks to less than a kick for the ninth time in the half thanks to a TravisCloke goal as the battle of wills enthralled the raucous crowd.
The titanic struggle didn’tlet up in a frenetic third term. Despite Roughead, Tim Boyle and Franklinthreatening to impose themselves on the contest – the trio kicked all four ofthe Hawks third-term goals – the Magpies refused to go away.
The bogey man was youngIrishman Martin Clarke, who kicked two goals for the term, the second after a50-metre against Croad, to keep his side in touch.
Boyle’s night ended with a hamstringinjury late in the quarter, while at the same time Collingwood’s Paul Medhurstcalmly slotted a goal from a tight angle to again cut the margin to five pointsheading into the last change.
On their biggest stage underthe tutelage of Alastair Clarkson, the Hawks’ coach urged his charges to riseto the challenge.
With Boyle gone, it was Franklinwho gave his team a lift with his fourth major at the five-minute mark. Whenveteran Shane Crawford drilled another two minutes later, the Hawks enjoyed a 16-pointbuffer, the biggest margin of the night.
Against the run of play, theMagpies kicked again. Didak accepted a Dane Swan handball over the top for aneasy goal, Leon Davis snapped another, and when Dale Thomas marked in the goalsquare and converted, the contest reached another level.
With the crowd at fever pitchand the margin three points in Collingwood’s favour, the Hawks were staringdown the barrel of an agonising loss. Michael Osborne was having none of it.The Hawk dragged down a superb overhead mark to give his side the lead, andwhen Roughead climbed all over the back of Nick Maxwell to haul in a ripper,the subsequent goal gave his side a nine-point lead with four minutesremaining.
From there, the Hawks stoodfirm. Inspired by Mitchell, who was superb all day, Grant Birchall, who onceagain played with poise beyond his years, McGlynn, Young, Chance Batemanand Crawford, the Hawks ran down the clock to record arguably their best winunder a jubilant Clarkson.
This young team has arrived.Its refusal to wilt in the face of a serious challenger gives it the edge itmight just need to go deep into September.
HAWTHORN 4.27.4 11.5 15.5 (95)
COLLINGWOOD 3.5 6.9 9.12 12.15 (87)
Goals
Hawthorn: L Franklin4 J Roughead 3 T Boyle 2 S Crawford 2 M Osborne 2 C Young R Ladson.
Collingwood: M Clarke 3 P Medhurst 2 D Thomas 2 A Didak 2 B Reid T Cloke L Davis.
Best
Hawthorn: S Crawford J Roughead S Mitchell L Franklin B Sewell M Osborne CYoung C Bateman.
Collingwood: D Swan S O'Bree N Maxwell T Lockyer M Clarke H Shaw L Davis.
Injuries
Collingwood:H O'Brien (shoulder) replaced in selected side by P Medhurst. Hawthorn: TBoyle (hamstring).
Nil
Umpires
S Jeffery S McInerney B Rosebury.
Official crowd
50,248 at Telstra Dome
