Brisbane Lions vs Hawthorn Hawks: AFL live scores, blog

Match result:

Brisbane have stormed home to thump Hawthorn by 56 points for their first AFL win this season, with former Hawk Luke Hodge instrumental in the upset.

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Final score
Brisbane Lions 20.9.129
Hawthorn Hawks 11.7.73

Match preview:

The Brisbane Lions are at home at the Gabba, and they welcome Hawthorn Hawks in what should be a much closer game than their ladder positions suggest, for the second of three Sunday afternoon matches. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 3:20pm (AEST).

The Brisbane Lions continue their seemingly endless search for that first elusive win for the season, though it would be entirely fair to say that they are better than their 0-8 record suggest. Brisbane have been competitive in moments, luckless in others.

So, with a Hawks reunion of sorts taking place in Brisbane, the Lions will be liking their chances of breaking their duck against a wounded Hawk.

Triple premiership captain Luke Hodge playing his old side will steal the headlines in the lead-up, but in reality, the key here is the Lions continuing their improvement to see if they can steal four points against a top-4 aspirant who are feeling some pain after the last round, resulting in mass changes.

In fact, so comfortable are the Lions from last weekend, they haven’t changed their personnel, which says to me that Fagan likes what he is seeing from his developing charges.

As for Hawthorn, well what a difference a 1-goal fourth term and 8-point loss to Sydney makes. Seemingly enjoying a short re-build and on their way to an early season top-four stranglehold, Clarko this week has rung in 6 changes to his line-up, two of which (it is claimed) are due to injuries.

The Hawks will hand a debut to Mitchell Lewis, and while a lot has been said about his name, little has been said about the VFL form that has warranted the call up, at the expense of a young Hawk, Tim O’Brien, who just hasn’t made his place in the senior side his own.

The return of Paul Puopolo as well should give the Hawks some added bite up front that they have distinctly lacked over the last few weeks.

I expect a big showing from the Lions’ half-forward line of Cam Rayner, Eric Hipwood, and Hugh McCluggage against a still fragile Hawks defence, and if so, with the Hawks potency thrown in, this should be a fairly high scoring affair.

Last but not least, this should be an interesting affair, to see how the Hawks go against their old champion hodge. No doubt sentiment will be thrown to the wayside, but it will be interesting to see how far and roughly it is thrown.

Prediction
Solely on the basis that Hawthorn are enjoying a eight-match winning streak against the Lions, and 11 of the last 12, and factoring in ladder positions, I’m tipping the Hawks. But not with any confidence.

The Hawks by 35.

Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 3:20pm (AEST).