The Hawthorn Hawks are now two games clear on top of the ladder after a 70-point win over the Richmond Tigers on Sunday.
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Final score
Hawthorn Hawks 16.18.114
Richmond Tigers 5.14.44
In a Sunday afternoon blockbuster, the top of the table Hawthorn Hawks take on the 13th-placed Richmond Tigers. Join The Roar to follow all of the action from 3:20pm (AEST) with our live scores and blog.
The Tigers are all but out of finals contention but they will still want to make their mark on the final makeup of the top eight in some way. In recent years, they’ve had the wood on the Hawks, winning three of their past five.
Hawthorn have not beaten the Tigers twice in a season since 1992 and will be looking to break that hoodoo by getting the win and further tighten their grip atop the AFL ladder.
Richmond can jump up a few spots with a win but, like Hawthorn, they do not have a strong percentage so they will need a big win over the much-fancied Hawks to make a serious move.
The Tigers, though, have been far from consistent this year. Such play against a well-oiled machine like this Hawthorn squad is almost a death sentence.
Richmond have won three of their last five, however those wins have come against teams who are all below them on the ladder. Their one bright spot in recent weeks was pushing the in-form Bulldogs right up until the final minutes of the game a couple of weeks ago.
On the other side of the coin Hawthorn are on a five-game winning streak and have beaten some class opposition during that time, including a big win against the Swans last week.
Richmond were pushed very early by the Bombers last week but when they kicked into gear the Tigers took control and scored a solid 19-point win, whereas Hawthorn needed to push it right to the final minute of the game to get over the top of the Swans.
It will be a big game for Sam Mitchell who is celebrating his 300th game and the
Hawks champion will want to get a win in his milestone game
Dustin Martin is another player to watch and with the Hawks very rarely using a tagger in games he could rack up an impressive stat line. Bradley Hill of the Hawks will need a big game after some down performances in recent weeks and with a number of Hawks players performing well in the VFL his time may be running out at the worst possible time of the season.
Prediction
For the Tigers to stand a chance they will have to stop the silly unforced mistakes they have made in previous weeks, but against such a strong side even tat may not be enough.
Hawks by 29.
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Lroy
Guest
How can a guy get a vote when his team have been flogged by 70 points??
Kevin lee
Guest
70 points win. No injuries. No MRP report. Good result.
Roger Davis
Guest
Umm....maybe because there's nothing illegal there for the umpires to make a call on. Maybe it's just... ummm....dare I say it....your biased view of the play!
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Hawks too good for the Tigers. Hawthorn have run out 70 point winners against the over matched Tigers 16.18.114 to 5.14.44. In what was a sloppy inaccurate game the Hawks managed to get the win and move 2 games clear on top of the AFL ladder. Richmond showed signs early on in the game but Hawthorn stood up when it mattered most and took control. The first quarter started strongly for the Hawks kicking the first 4 scores of the game but in what was a sign of things to come only 1 of those scores was a goal, Both teams kicked a combined 4 goals 10 for the first quarter. Richmond took the momentum midway through the 1st quarter but the poor kicking let them down. Hawthorn kicked 9 goals in the 4th to Richmond's 1. The second quarter was another display of inaccurate kicking with only 3 goals kicked for the entire quarter, Some questionable umpiring non calls probably cost Richmond a few more chances to score in the quarter. The third was again a display of poor kicking with Richmond going goalless for the quarter despite having a few good chances at goal. The hawks were starting to take control in the 3rd but they were far from convincing in the game. The 4th was all Hawthorn and they started to make their presence felt on the scoreboard kicking 9 unanswered goals in a row Sam Mitchell was superb in his 300th collecting 38 touches in a best on ground appearance. Dustin Martin was again superb for Richmond collecting 39. Roar MVP Sam Mitchell 3 Josh Gibson 2 Dustin Martin 1 Leading Possessions Hawthorn Sam Mitchell 38 Jordan Lewis 33 2 with 31 Richmond Dustin Martin 39 Shaun Grigg 27 Anthony Miles 26 Leading Goal Scorers Hawthorn Cyril Rioli 3 Jack Gunston 3 James Sicily 3 Richmond Jack Riewoldt 2 3 players with 1. Hawthorn now sit 2 games clear on top while Richmond stay in 13th Next Week Hawthorn faces Carlton in Tasmania while Richmond face a daunting task in Canberra against the Giants.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Goal Hawks. After the final siren. Hawthorn 16.18.114 Richmond 5.14.44 Game over Ben McEvoy gets a goal right on the siren for the big win to the Hawks in Sam Mitchells 300th.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Behind Hawthorn 30' Hawthorn 15.18.108 Richmond 5.14.44 Ceglar gets the minor score.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Goal Hawthorn. 28' Hawthorn 15.17.107 Richmond 5.14.44 Sicily with the goal.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Goal Hawks. 27' Hawthorn 14.17.101 Richmond 5.14.44 Gunston kicks it and that is his 3rd of the game.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Free kick against Richmond in the Hawthorn forward line. Gunston will line up for goal.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Goal Richmond. 25' Hawthorn 13.17.95 Richmond 4.14.44 Jack kicks his 2nd of the game.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Goal Hawthorn. 20' Hawthorn 13.17.95 Richmond 4.14.38 Breust with his 2nd of the game.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Goal Hawthorn 18' Hawthorn 12.17.89 Richmond 4.14.38 Hawks are firing now and they are running up the score a little bit in the 4th.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Goal Hawthorn. 16' Hawthorn 11.17.83 Richmond 4.14.38 Cyril Rioli takes a nice mark and finishes it off with his 3rd goal of the game.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Behind Richmond. 12' Hawthorn 10.17.77 Richmond 4.14.38 Riewoldt misses everything and it is rushed through for a behind.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Goal Hawthorn. 11' Hawthorn 10.17.77 Richmond 4.13.37 Josh Gibson kicks a rare goal for the Hawks and they seem to be running away with this game now.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Behind Richmond 10' Hawthorn 9.17.71 Richmond 4.13.37.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Goal Hawthorn. 9' Hawthorn 9.17.71 Richmond 4.12.36 Cyril keeps the ball in play runs around and boots a nice goal.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Behind Richmond. 8' Hawthorn 8.17.65 Richmond 4.12.36 Dustin Martin with the behind.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Goal Richmond. 6' Hawthorn 8.17.65 Richmond 4.11.35 Jack Riewoldt gets first Richmond goal of the half.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Not a great crowd at this game considering both teams boast over 120k members.