The Hawthorn Hawks have moved to 8-3 with a win over the Melbourne Demons, despite an impressive effort by Melbourne to threaten for the win up until the final term.
REPORT: HAWKS PULL AWAY IN FINAL TERM
Final score
Hawthorn Hawks 11.16.82
Melbourne Demons 10.4.64
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The Melbourne Demons have been one of the surprise packets of 2016, but they get a very tough assignment this weekend as they take on the Hawthorn Hawks at the MCG. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:40pm AEST.
The Hawks have been cruising along so far in 2016, but they’re yet to really impress. They were pushed by the lowly Lions last weekend, and it was only a fourth quarter burst that led to the 47-point win.
Jordan Lewis had a blinder in his 250th, leading all comers with 42 disposals to claim best on ground. Cyril Rioli was also influential, as he kicked five goals to go with 19 disposals.
With their record standing at 7-3 after 10 weeks, the Hawks are perfectly positioned for another deep September run.
The Demons were disappointing at best last weekend, as they showed very little in a 45-point loss to the Power in Alice Springs.
The news got worse during the week, as the club announced that Jack Viney would miss four weeks with a broken knuckle.
Max Gawn was a standout for the Dees, as he continued his stellar season with 38 hitouts and two goals. He’ll need another big game if the Demons want any chance against the Hawks.
Hawthorn have made two changes to their side, with Daniel Howe and Kade Stewart both getting a run this weekend, Stewart debuting. Will Langford (managed) and Matt Spangher (Hamstring) will miss the clash.
The Demons have made five changes to the side that was beaten last week. Alex Neal-Bullen, Ben Kennedy and Ben Newton have all been omitted, while Colin Garland (cheekbone), and Jack Viney (hand) will miss with injury.
Jack Trengove will play his first game in over two years, and Chris Dawes will also see his first action of the season. Sam Frost, Clayton Oliver, and Aaron Vandenberg will also play.
Prediction
Tough to go past the Hawks here. Although the two sides are not that far apart in terms of stats, the Hawks veterans should control the game enough to get the four points.
Hawks by 26
Shawn Kewley
Guest
Joel, somewhat disappointed with your final analysis of the last quarter of the dees effort as it was a real arm wrestle in the wet. Given they turned up against the hawks it was so close until the final 10 minutes of the match with the Hawks capitalising on a couple of lucky breaks in general play. Nothing is more frustrating than watching the Hawks play for frees in front on goal ducking the head and getting them paid more often than what it really should be. Good to see the Dees spark under Bernie Vince and give Sam Mitchell some of his own back as gets a very good run with the umps too often. A really good game of wet footy, tough and hard stuff from a young side against the benchmark team.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
i am a hawks fan and that should have been holding the ball. The fact he got a free kick for manipulating high contact is a blight on the game. This ruling has been tenuous since they put in the 'head is sacrosanct' rule without realising how most will manipulate it to gain advantage. Joel Selwood was the torch bearer in this and many have followed. i have no doubt that coaches are now training players to exploit it. the end result with be Neil Sacshe the sequel with someone getting a broken neck by instigating high contact and with how reactionary the AFL is, then, and only then will they seriously address it
Perry Bridge
Guest
Shocking free kick decision this one. But there wont be the furore that there was last week. Sadly though - this trend of first year players adopting this technique is widespread and the duty of care of coaches and the game is to eradicate it and not encourage it.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Young Kate Stewart on debut drew a high free kick in that last quarter directly in front of goal - and how, after all the discussion during the week how he was able to duck and drive and draw the high contact and draw the free is just astounding. Thankfully he missed but gee - a free like that at a crucial point in the game (scores level at the time early in the last). Ironically about half way through the term Bernie Vince - from a stoppage/pack on the wing just threw the ball on the boot - and guess what, down the line - gaining meterage and it went over the boundary. Not called deliberate. Had he been a defender in the back pocket the current ridiculous over interpretation would dictate that gaining meterage is not a sufficient primary objective, of just clearing the area is not sufficient - - and therefore for a defender it must be deliberate but not for delivery inside the forward half. The irony on this point is that teams' would rather draw a boundary throw in next to the point post than score a behind a present the opposition with a free kick from the goalsquare.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Click here for the full match report from this game What's next? Follow our Geelong vs GWS live blog MVP VOTING 3. Bernie Vince: Any player that gets 36 disposals, 11 clearances and 9 Inside 50's gets 3 votes from me. Simple as that. 2. Isaac Smith: Played direct all day, and ended up with 29 disposals at 69% in tough conditions. Also had 9 Inside 50s and 7 Marks. 1. Dom Tyson: 32 disposals at 81% in wet conditions is hard to do. Also added 9 clearances and 6 tackles to his performance.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Hawthorn have made it 13 wins in a row against the Demons with a hard-fought 18 points win at the MCG. After a tight first three quarters, the Hawks kicked three unanswered goals in the final quarter to run out with a 11.16 (82) to 10.4 (64) win. The Demons started quickly, with two goals inside the first 10 minutes to jump out to a 12 point lead. However, the Hawks kicked the next four goals, and held on to a 17 point lead at quarter time. The second quarter belonged to the Demons, as their midfield got on top in a big way to lead them to a one-point lead at the main break. Bernie Vince in particular was brilliant in the second quarter, almost single-handedly dragging his side to that well-deserved lead. The third quarter remained tight, as neither side could build any real break on the opposition. The game was balanced on a knife's edge at the end of the third, as scores were level. The fourth quarter ended up being a little bit of an anti climax, as Melbourne never really showed up for the fight. The Hawks just wore them down, and added another close win to their resume for 2016. Paul Roos should be really concerned about the final quarter, as it didn't look like the Demons wanted to win for long periods. All of the positives from the first three quarters weren't seen in the last, as they seemed too timid to try and take the four points. Thanks for joining me for this clash. I'm heading over for the Giants Cats Blog in about 10 minutes.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
0' The Demons have one more chance to score, but Petracca picks out the only Hawk amongst three Demons. Sums up their last quarter really. Hawks 11.16 82 Demons 10.4 64
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
1' Jayden Hunt gathers possession on his own line, and he manages to get outside 50 before being tackled out of bounds. Hawks 11.16 82 Demons 10.4 64
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
2' Bernie Vince just gave away 50, and he's on report for striking. Probably not in too much trouble, but that was a dumb act purely born of frustration. Hawks 11.16 82 Demons 10.4 64
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND DEMONS 2' Vandenberg snaps a point off the outside of the boot. Didn't get the ball to swing back enough. Hawks 11.16 82 Demons 10.4 64
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL HAWKS 4' Tim O'Brien with an exquisite kick from the pocket, just to put the cherry on top of the win. Hawks 11.16 82 Demons 10.3 63
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
5' Melbourne have faded badly in this last quarter, but now Garlett is away. He has an open goal square, but he's managed to kick out on the full. They've shown very little desire in this last quarter. Hawks 10.16 76 Demons 10.3 63
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL HAWKS 6' That'll do it. Frawley manages to hit Gunston on the chest with a kick off the deck, and it'll all end with Puopolo snapping a goal! Hawks 10.16 76 Demons 10.3 63
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
7' O'Brien caught holding the footy, so Oscar McDonald will clear the danger. Now Oliver kicks forward, but Gibson and Frawley combine to get the Hawks travelling forward again. Hawks 9.16 70 Demons 10.3 63
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
7' Easy clearance from Shiels, and now the Hawks are inside 50. The Demons are running out of time here. Hawks 9.16 70 Demons 10.3 63
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
8' Vince with another clearance, and it'll get out of bounds just inside 50. Demons need a goal here. Hawks 9.16 70 Demons 10.3 63
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND HAWKS 10' Cyril Rioli with a silly kick looking for Gunston, and the Demons can go forward. Puopolo now manages to clear it away, and the Hawks have won the footy. Frost has some work to do here, and he does it well. The Demons can't clear it away though, and they're lucky that Hill's shot has missed. Hawks 9.16 70 Demons 10.3 63
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
11' Gawn with a brilliant tap down, but Rioli has dispossessed Jones. Now Vince hacks the ball clear, and Vandenberg gets it out on the wing. Hawks 9.15 69 Demons 10.3 63
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL HAWKS 11' Duryea to Smith, and the Hawks are inside 50. Breust has two to beat, but he's done that, and now Stewart will kick a goal!!! Brilliant play from Breust! Just held the footy up long enough for the handball out! Hawks 9.15 69 Demons 10.3 63
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
12' Bernie Vince tumbles the ball inside 50, but the spoil from Josh Gibson on Max Gawn is brilliant. The Demons are starting to get on top now. Hawks 8.15 63 Demons 10.3 63