HAWTHORN has revived its top-four ambitions and dentedEssendon’s finals hopes, winning the traditional ‘line-in-the-sand’ match atthe MCG by 63 points.
The Hawks led all day but late goals to Damien Peverill andMatthew Lloyd in the third quarter revived the Bombers’ hopes, slashing themargin to 23 points.
Quick goals to Rick Ladson, skipper Richie Vandenberg andJarryd Roughead ended the resistance as Hawthorn swept away in a six-goal-to-nonefinal quarter, winning 17.17 (119) to 7.14 (56).
The Hawks rise to fourth spot, joining Collingwood, PortAdelaide and West Coast on 11 wins – although West Coast can improve by beatingFremantle in Sunday afternoon’s western derby. They have now won five in a rowagainst Essendon.
The Hawks received great service from returning duo SamMitchell and Lance Franklin, who were both late withdrawals from the side thatlost to the Kangaroos in Launceston last week.
Mitchell was running hot in the first term against JobeWatson and Jason Winderlich, and by the first change had 13 possessions to hisname. He finished with 29, and was one of the Hawks' most prolific ball-gettersalong with Jordan Lewis (30) and Grant Birchall (28).
Franklinkicked four goals from seven scoring shots.
Brent Guerra and Campbell Brown were good in defence, withthe latter courageously launching himself at the ball twice to save potentialScott Lucas and Lloyd goals.
The Hawks ran harder early, exploiting Essendon’s errors tokick four goals – including three to Franklin– while keeping the Bombers goalless for the first term.
The Bombers were rattled and tried to physically intimidatethe younger Hawks, but the side was able to rally well, stretching the lead to 36points after Jarryd Roughead slotted one over his shoulder in the secondquarter.
Lucas responded with a miracle goal from the boundary line,before Lloyd was handed a free kick as the siren rang to make the half-timedeficit 25 points.
Despite getting the first goal of the third term whenRoughead slotted one off the ground, the Bombers managed to cut the Hawks'41-point lead back to a reachable 23 points by the final change.
But Ladson broke the deadlock for the Hawks inside threeminutes of the restart, and his goal kick-started a six-goal flurry rounded outa comfortable win.
Hawthorn’s tough run home continues next Saturday, when ithosts the rampaging Brisbane Lions at the MCG.
Hawthorn 4.4 7.9 11.11 17.17(119)
Essendon 0.6 3.8 7.12 7.14(56)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Franklin 4, Roughead 3, Crawford 2, Dixon 2, Ladson 2, Boyle, Gilham, Vandenberg,Bateman
Essendon: Lloyd2, Fletcher, Lucas, Slattery, Monfries, Peverill
BEST
Hawthorn:Mitchell, Franklin, Bateman, Crawford, Brown, Roughead, Guerra, Croad
Essendon: Stanton, Fletcher,Lovett-Murray, Peverill, Watson
