The VFLW Hawks broke their six-game drought on Sunday, beating Williamstown by 16 points at Box Hill City Oval.
In Captain Meg Hutchins’ 250th game, the girls managed to secure a win for the skipper.
It was perfect conditions for footy, and a better day couldn’t have been scripted for Meg’s milestone.
This was one of the fieriest games that the Hawks have played, with fury erupting on the field as the girls from both sides wanted to secure the four points.
The first quarter opened with a stunning goal from Dom Carbone, who came out of the gates with all cylinders firing.
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Williamstown brought the aggression but not the accuracy, missing two goals in the term.
Hutchins in the back line kept the Williamstown opposition quiet and unable to convert.
At the end of the quarter Hawthorn led by just five points, but it was clear who was in control of the ball. Williamstown were lagging behind the dominant Hawks.
The second quarter saw the momentum continue, with goals from Amy Malander and Emily McIlvena keeping the score in the black.
Dom Carbone also showed her strength in the forward line, with some intense tackles that helped the rest of the forwards keep their position.
Amy Malander briefly went off with a suspected eye injury but the pause in play didn’t change the direction the wind was blowing.
The half ended with Hawthorn leading by 17 points, but a half-time speech from Coach Bec Goddard reminded the girls that a lead of three goals would not be enough to stop the ferocious Williamstown opposition from taking the lead.
The third term saw the Williamstown girls bring some of their missing energy. They were unwilling to cede any territory, keeping the ball with their forwards for the majority of the quarter.
It was finally in this quarter that they scored their first goal for the game.
Tamara Luke was an aggressive powerhouse in the third term, and although she wasn’t able to convert set shots into goals, she showed her strength for the Hawks by taking tackles all over the ground.
The Hawks still led by 10 points at the beginning of the final quarter, but this didn’t mean they were ready to rest on their laurels.
The quarter opened with a Tam Luke special, and with Meg Hutchins again in the forward line, it was a perfect combo to keep the ball out of opposition hands.
Sadly, Lauren Szigeti left the ground with a suspected ankle injury, and spent the rest of the match on crutches after being treated by medical staff.
Dom Carbone scored her second goal of the day, putting the Hawks in an unassailable position.
At the siren, it was the perfect ending to the skipper’s milestone match. Meg Hutchins was chaired off the ground by former teammates Lou Wotton and Steph Carroll, and the team finally got to sing a song they haven’t heard since Round 2.
FINAL SCORE
Hawthorn 5.6.36
Williamstown 2.8.20
Goals: Carbone 2, Malander, McIlvena, Luke
Best: Bolding, Luke, Hutchins, Carbone, Richardson, Bain
