HAWTHORN goes into the bye with a 6-6 record after a surprise 42-point loss to the Brisbane Lions in their round 12 match at Aurora Stadium in Launceston.

The Lions were 14 points behind at half time but slammed on 10 second half goals to one to run out winners 13.15 (93) to 7.9 (51).

Lions' captain Jonathan Brown was outstanding for the winners with five goals, four of them in the second half.

The Hawks kicked with a stiff breeze in the opening term but it was the Lions who got away to a promising start.

They took control of the clearances and only some ordinary foot skills heading forward prevented them leading at the first change.

Brown was double-teamed by Robert Campbell and Luke Hodge but his teammates kept looking for him without success.

Rhan Hooper's opening goal of the match came after a blunder in the defensive goalsquare. Simon Taylor dropped an uncontested mark then watched it bounce off Thomas Murphy's head and into the arms of Hooper in the goalsquare.

Brad Sewell answered and Mark Williams bagged a couple as the Hawks struck back. Mitch Clark got the Lions second goal to keep the margin close.

Also in the first term, Lion Troy Selwood dislocated his shoulder after being squashed under Hodge earlier in the game and sat out the rest of the game.

The biggest difference early was the classy kicking of the Hawks. They looked for smarter options when they went forward which gave them the lead.

The Hawks took charge in the second term despite kicking into the wind. They were precise with their kicking into the breeze and that set up a 14-point lead at the long break.

However, the tables turned in the third term with the Lions starting to hit their targets.

Brown's two goals for the term set up a four goal-to one quarter and a six-point three-quarter time lead.

Hawthorn's only goal came from Stuart Dew midway through the third term and it was to be the Hawks last of the day.

The Lions were coming home with the breeze and slammed on six goals to nil to record a comprehensive win.

In the end the Hawks failed to kick a goal in the last term and got just one for the second half.

Better players for the Hawks included Jordan Lewis who got 32 disposals, although he gave away four free kicks, Sam Mitchell who overcame a nasty head knock early in the game to end with 31 possessions, and Sewell (28) particularly in the first half.

Williams' three goals was the best return of the forwards with Buddy Franklin and Jarryd Roughead relatively quiet, although opportunities were limited.

The Hawks have a tough run ahead with games against the Bulldogs, Geelong, Collingwood and St Kilda in their next seven games.


Hawthorn               3.3   6.5   7.7    7.9   (51)
Brisbane Lions      2.4   3.9   7.13   13.15  (93)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Williams 3, Roughead, Sewell, Franklin, Dew
Brisbane Lions:  Brown 5, Sherman 2, Clark, Notting, Rich, Stiller, Hooper, Rischitelli

BEST
Hawthorn: Sewell, Lewis, Ellis, Mitchell, Hodge
Brisbane Lions: Brown, Sherman, Brennan, Black, Rischitelli

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Brisbane Lions: Troy Selwood (shoulder)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Chris Donlon, Hayden Kennedy, Justin Schmitt

Official Crowd: 16,710 at Aurora Stadium

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.