THE KANGAROOS have wrecked Hawthorn’s attempt to consolidatethird spot on the ladder, beating the Hawks by 37 points at Aurora Stadium.
Corey Jones ledthe raid on Hawthorn’s Tasmanian ‘fortress’ away from home, kicking seven goals as theRoos won each of the first three quarters and cruised to a comfortable victory,16.12 (108) to 10.11 (71).
The Hawks were rocked before the game by the late withdrawalsof Lance Franklin (illness) and Sam Mitchell (tight calf), and they seemed tomiss their playmakers’ spark.
The Roos carved out a nine-point lead after a scrappy firstquarter, then broke the game open with six goals to two in the second term and threegoals to one in the third.
Indecision and some poor discipline cost Hawthorn, withthree 50m penalties costing two goals before half time.
Luke Hodge and Shane Crawford were the side’s hardestworkers, showing their steel in the second half as the Hawks fought to preventa blowout. Crawford won 27 touches but appeared to pick up a knock and left theground in the final quarter.
Skipper Richie Vandenberg’s return was the brightest news ofthe day. He gathered 20 touches and kicked a goal, with his trademark tenacity aroundthe contests suggesting he will be a valuable asset for the run-in to thefinals.
Midfielder Travis Tuck won 12 touches on debut.
Hawthorn will drop out of the top four if Port Adelaidebeats Melbourne later on Sunday afternoon, andnow faces important games against finals aspirants Essendon and the BrisbaneLions before returning to Tasmaniato face Port Adelaide in round 20.
Bright, breezy conditions greeted the sides in Launceston,but the match between third and fourth failed to meet expectations, with missedtargets and scrambled possessions the order of the day.
The Hawks bagged the first goal through Luke Hodge, but itwas the Kangaroos who peppered their forward line and deserved their thinquarter-time lead.
Drew Petrie wasted two chances inside 50 to add to hissoaring goal tally before Corey Joneskicked the Roos’ opener, leading into space on the left forward flank.
Jones addedanother before Beau Dowler and then Jarryd Roughead blew the best of severalgood chances for the Hawks.
The Roos were stronger at the contests and they capitalisedin the second term, adding six goals to two.
Kangaroos forward Corey Joneskicked four first-half goals, and his fourth was a gift after Hawthorn’s JordanLewis dropped Daniel Harris to the ground, conceding two 50m penalties.
Roos rookie Djaran Whyman also benefited from a 50m penalty,extending the margin beyond 20 points in time-on in the second term.
Ben McGlynn’s hard work was rewarded with a goal 12 minutesinto the third term as the Hawks wrestled to stay in touch, but his was a lonecontribution as the Kangaroos added three goals to extend their lead at theother end.
The game opened up in the final quarter, which the Hawks wonby a goal to prevent a much bigger dent in their percentage.
Kangaroos 2.5 8.7 11.10 16.12(108)
Hawthorn 1.2 3.6 4.11 10.11 (71)
GOALS
Kangaroos: Jones 7, Petrie 2,Sansbury 2, Whyman 2, McIntosh, Edwards, Harvey
Hawthorn: Croad 2,Dowler 2, Roughead, Hodge, Dixon, Vandenberg, McGlynn,Young
BEST
Kangaroos: Jones, Harvey, McIntosh,Harris, Firrito, Archer
Hawthorn: Hodge, Bateman, Crawford, Lewis,Young, Sewell
INJURIES
Kangaroos: Wells (knee) replaced in selected side by Edwards, Firrito (jarred back).Hawthorn: Crawford (knee), Franklin (illness) replaced in selected side by Dowler, Mitchell (calf) replaced in selected side by Tuck.
Reports: Lewis (Hawthorn)reported by field umpire Nicholls for allegedly striking Harris (Kangaroos)in second quarter
Umpires: S McInerney S Ryan KNicholls
Official crowd: 19,114 at AuroraStadium
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