Hawthorn squares off with the Brisbane Lions from the MCG to open the AFL’s Saturday fixture.
The Hawks (3-7, 75%) had shown improved from prior to last week’s big loss to Port Adelaide and now welcome back skipper James Sicily and Seamus Mitchell.
They face a Lions side (8-3, 124.7%) that’s coming off its bye following a defeat to Adelaide to end a seven-game winning streak.
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Brisbane has made multiple changes including recalling Deven Robertson and Jack Payne and dumping Keidean Coleman, while Dayne Zorko will miss through suspension.
Jack Gunston meanwhile comes up against his former side for the first time, saying this week he expects it to be a “weird feeling.”
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There were no late changes for either side, with Cam Mackenzie (Hawthorn) and Coleman (Brisbane) named starting subs.
After a scrappy start to the game where neither side could get clean chains of play, Charlie Cameron craftily curled a classy goal with 13 minutes left in opening term.
Soon after though, Mitch Lewis gave Hawthorn reward for some big efforts with its own first major of the day.
“It’s important when you come up against a good side to score a score on the board early,” Hawks legend Jordan Lewis said on Fox Footy.
It was goal for goal in the opening term, with both sides trading the next for majors including Josh Dunkley kicking his first goal for the Lions.
Will Day went down to the rooms for a few minutes in the first quarter with a shoulder complaint, but later returned to the game in a sigh of relief for Hawks fans.
Connor Macdonald kicked Hawthorn’s third goal of the day, with a shot of a frustrated Chris Fagan telling the story of how the plucky Hawks were taking it right to his side.
In the highlight of the first term, Sam Butler kicked a thrilling dribble goal from distance to give Sam Mitchell’s team the lead.
“What a goal, that was brilliant by Butler,” Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson said on Fox Footy.
The Hawks led by five points at the first change, 4.1 (25) to 3.2 (20).
“You’ve got love the way Sam Mitchell has this team playing, confidence and aggression and the ability to switch their zone. There’s a lot of upside for this young team,” former Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon said on Fox Footy.
Hawthorn had several more opportunities to score early in the second term but weren’t able to make good on its chances.
Cameron made them pay at the other end, taking a half opportunity deep in forward 50 with his second goal to regain the lead for Brisbane.
Will Ashcroft continues the Lions’ promising run with a timely snap goal to make it two in a row for the visitors.
“He’s just so clean … he rarely fumbles,” Lewis added.
Lewis put through his second goal of the day to tie up the score at the MCG.
“We can see Fagan is a little frustrated with how they’re using the ball out of their back half. There’s no care and the skill execution has been really poor,” Lewis noted.
Eric Hipwood restored some order for Brisbane, getting on the end of a slingshot play and converting the set shot to give his side back the lead.
Hipwood kicked another right on the half-time siren to give Brisbane a 17-point advantage, 8.3 (51) to 5.4 (34).
The Hawks started fast out of the gates in the second half, with Luke Breust kicking a goal within 20 seconds.
Hipwood responded though with his third goal of the game to regain some breathing space for the visitors.
Breust would come off the field early in the third term after copping a a knock to leg. After getting his leg strapped up and attempting to return to the game, Breust was eventually subbed out for Cam Makenzie.
Meanwhile the opportunistic Dylan Moore drew a free kick in front of goal and kicked truly to get Hawthorn back within 10 points.
Just like he had earlier though, Hipwood stood up for Brisbane, taking a big mark inside 50 and converting the goal, with Johnson noting his “confidence is rising.”
But Hawthorn had real belief, kicking the next three goals including consecutive majors to Lewis to regain the lead.
“Hawthorn are up and about at the moment, they’ve got the momentum,” Lewis said.
Lloyd Meek added another for the home side to open up a 10-point lead.
“They’ve really struggled in this part of the game, just not finding easy options to go outside the transition the ball,” Lewis added.
Hawthorn took a 10-point lead into three-quarter time, 11.7 (73) to 10.3 (63).
Lincoln McCarthy booted the first goal of the fourth term as it was game on at the MCG, but Macdonald instantly responded for Hawthorn.
This match gets underway at 1.45 AEST from the MCG.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504) from 1pm AEST.
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