The crucial cogs of AFL's Round 7: Which players need to be the difference makers?
We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
Relentless Hawthorn picked up an 11th AFL win in a row on Saturday, showing the gulf in class between them and Gold Coast with a 99-point win.
The Hawks ridiculed pre-match suggestions that the rising Suns could cause the premiers a headache, completing a comprehensive 23.10 (148) to 7.7 (49) win.
The victory extends a run stretching back to round 20 last year and puts the Hawks top of the ladder with a perfect record after four matches.
The Hawks will meet fellow unbeaten team Geelong in an Easter Monday blockbuster in their next match.
Jack Gunstan was the standout in a solid team display by the Hawks, picking up five goals and 25 disposals in an impressive performance.
Key forward Jarryd Roughead only had 17 disposals for the match but still managed to grab four goals.
Sam Mitchell, Luke Breust, Matthew Suckling and Cyril Rioli all managed two goals apiece for the Hawks, with 12 Hawthorn players claiming 20 or more disposals.
Gary Ablett again led the disposals count for the Suns with 36 though the Brownlow Medallist’s influence was relatively quiet by his high standards.
After kicking four goals in the opening term, the Suns barely made an impact on the scoreboard for the final three quarters.
They could only manage two majors in the second quarter as the Hawks kicked five before a 5.2 to 1.1 third term took the match away from the hosts.
In the end the Hawks kicked the final 11 goals of the match to make it clear how far the Suns have to go before they can consider themselves genuine premiership contenders.
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We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
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