HAWTHORN has overcome a tenacious Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday afternoon to win by 19 points.
The Hawks, who cemented top spot on the AFL ladder with the win, had to weather a barrage from the pumped-up Demons before winning 14.13 (97) to 12.6 (78).
The Hawks were near-unbackable favourites heading into the clash, having trounced the Demons by 104 points in round one. But it was evident from the opening seconds that they were facing a vastly-different Melbourne outfit from the one they encountered in the season opener.
It took Hawthorn until the final minutes to seal the hard-fought victory.
Captain Sam Mitchell and fellow midfielders Chance Bateman and Brad Sewell were terrific for the Hawks, while Brock McLean was clearly Melbourne’s best.
It was Mark Williams who put the nails in the Melbourne coffin. Williams, who last week came under fire for a gesture in his side’s win over Port Adelaide, booted two late goals to help the Hawks clinch their ninth straight win. But this time there were no headline-grabbing demonstrations of celebration from the Hawks’ No.6.
Demon Cameron Bruce put his side in front in the 10th minute of the final term but the Hawks booted the next three goals – two of which came to Williams – to stitch up another four points.
Earlier, however, it was a six-goal third quarter that got the Hawks back into the contest, and more particularly four goals in six minutes late in the term that was the difference in the end.
The Demons had led by 14 points and looked in ominous touch before first-year Hawk Cyril Rioli got his side going.
The mercurial youngster’s second goal of the term seemed to lift his team, and by the end of the quarter, Hawthorn was in front.
Lance Franklin also played his part, banging a long goal to get the brown and gold flags waving.
Melbourne started the match brightly, in part due to a spirited address from former skipper David Neitz, who earlier in the week had announced his retirement from AFL football.
Neitz spoke to his now-former teammates just moments before they ran through their banner and with his words still ringing in their ears, the Demons threw their weight around early in the piece.
Franklin, who on paper loomed as the obvious match-winner, was the target.
After some hard hits early, the Hawks steadied through a Rick Ladson goal, with Bateman’s clever vision setting up the game’s first.
Russell Robertson replied shortly after, and that lifted the Dees.
Franklin outpointed a couple of Melbourne defenders mid-way through the opening quarter to boot his first, and when Robbie Campbell goaled from in front, Hawthorn led by two goals and looked on its way.
But from there, the Demons gained control. By the first break they had taken a six-point lead as McLean led by example through the middle, while livewires Aaron Davey and Austin Wonaeamirri provided plenty of spark.
It just didn’t look like it was going to be the Hawks’ day in the second term, with shots on goal hitting the post and other chances that would usually sail through being wasted.
Jarryd Roughead did kick one but missed a couple of others he might have snaffled, as the Demons seemed to have all the momentum.
The only positive for Alastair Clarkson was that despite the opposition seeming to have all the run of play, his men only trailed by nine points at the long break.
It would prove costly for the Demons, who never made the most of their early dominance and were eventually swept up by the Hawks, who simply had too many big guns.
Jordan Lewis was a late withdrawal for Hawthorn but there were other pleasing signs for the winners with Jarryd Morton, and more particularly Josh Kennedy, both making impressive debuts and suggesting they will be fine long-term prospects.
Next week the Hawks face the Western Bulldogs in a blockbuster at Aurora Stadium in Launceston.
Hawthorn 3.3 4.7 10.9 14.13 (97)
Melbourne 4.3 6.4 9.5 12.6 (78)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Franklin 3, Rioli 3, Williams 3, Ladson, Campbell, Roughead, Ellis, Clarke
Melbourne: Holland 3, Robertson 2, Wonaeamirri 2, Jones 2, Johnson, Davey, Bruce
BEST
Hawthorn: Bateman, Rioli, Campbell, Birchall, Mitchell, Franklin
Melbourne: McLean, Bate, Davey, Holland, Wonaeamirri, Moloney
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Lewis (corked thigh) replaced in selected side by Morton, Dew (hamstring)
Melbourne: White (back) replaced in selected side by Jamar, Robertson (corked thigh), Holland (shoulder)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: James, Grun, Armstrong
Official crowd: 41,341 at the MCG
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
