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Hawks extend AFL run over Magpies

21st June, 2014
9

Veteran midfielder Brad Sewell seized the moment as Hawthorn extended their recent domination of Collingwood with a finals-shaping 29-point AFL win at the MCG.

Power forward Travis Cloke had dragged the Magpies within two points midway through the third term on Saturday with the fourth major of his impressive five-goal haul.

Enter the 30-year-old Sewell, a two-time premiership hero, who has only managed five senior matches to date in his 11th season.

Never a noted goalkicker, Sewell’s instinctive snap against the run of play gave the Hawks some valuable breathing space.

A further three goals in as many minutes from Hawthorn late in the term had Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley fuming at the efforts of his young ruckman Jarrod Witts and the Hawks well on the way to a 17.13 (115) to 13.8 (86) victory which further entrenched them in the top four.

“This is a brutal, tough competition and (Sewell) was a little slow to get going this year,” said Hawthorn interim coach Brendon Bolton.

“We always knew he would.

“Challenge isn’t unusual in any organisation.

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“He’s proud and determined and it’s more from within than external.”

Sewell finished the match with 26 possessions, vying for best afield honours with opposing forwards Cloke and Luke Breust, who led the Hawks’ multi-pronged attack with four majors.

Jarryd Roughead also booted three goals for Hawthorn, while Cyril Rioli and Ryan Schoenmakers chipped in with two apiece.

Hawthorn have won their past six games against Collingwood by an average margin of more than six goals.

“The combination is more what we consider than just looking at Breust’s game or Rioli’s game because forward-line craft is about team and about us,” said Bolton.

Witts bore the brunt of Buckley’s anger for failing to stand up when the Hawks made their decisive run in the third quarter.

“We’d worked so hard as a side to be in the game and we need every individual to understand … those moments in games that you need to seize,” said Buckley.

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“And Hawthorn were that side today that seized those moments and we let them go.”

The Magpies’ win-loss record slips to 8-5 ahead of the June 29 clash with traditional rivals Carlton at the MCG.

Hawthorn travel to Launceston next Saturday to take on Gold Coast.

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