Hawthorn’s finals chances are under severe threat as the Western Bulldogs host them at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night. Join The Roar for live scores and blog of the encounter, starting from 7:25pm AEST.
The Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn last met in Round 23 last year. The Hawks came out nine-point winners at Etihad Stadium. Jarryd Roughead kicked five goals, and Mitchell had 32 disposals.
These teams could not play more different styles. The Bulldogs operate high energy, high handball, high-risk football, but as last week showed, they are mesmerising at their best.
In contrast, Hawthorn is far more deliberate in their approach and like to hit low risk 45-degree targets.
This game looms large as a must-win fixture for the Hawks. They are currently only outside the eight on percentage and possess one of the easiest draws in the competition, but they have shown recent form not befitting of a finals side.
Hawthorn has had a sporadic season, with extraordinary performances, such as their Easter Monday victory against Geelong, mixed in with equally disappointing performances, as they showed against Brisbane in Round 9.
Tom Mitchell has produced an incredibly consistent and impactful season. Ahead on almost all Brownlow predictors, the former Swan has often single handily held up the rejuvenating Hawthorn midfield.
The Hawks lost to a depleted GWS outfit by 11 points in Sydney last week. What was more horrifying was the incredible disparity in the contested ball. GWS collected an astonishing 55 more contested possessions than the Hawks and won the clearances 51 to 28. No matter how good the Hawks ball movement is, they will be unable to compete if they lose the inside battle by such a margin.
In stark contrast, the Western Bulldogs have played two weeks of high-quality, high-pace football. Lead by Luke Dahlhaus; the Bulldogs have had a renaissance of the pressure that saw them dominate September in 2016.
Jackson Macrae has been a revelation for the Bulldogs in 2018. A previously good contributor, Macrae has broken out into an absolute superstar of the competition. The Dogs mid ranks elite in 12 separate stat categories this year.
Last week, the Bulldogs executed an incredible upset over the much-fancied Cats. Harry Taylor had the opportunity to put Geelong in front after the siren but blocked it out to the left.
Join The Roar for live scores and blog of the match between the Western Bulldogs and the Hawthorn Hawks in Round 16 of the 2018 AFL Season at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, starting from 7:25pm AEST.
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Absolutely!! it's been phenomenal.
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Supercoach scores: WB: J.Johannisen 139 H.Crozier 107 L.Hunter 105 J.Trengove 99 M.Adams 89 J.Dunkley 87 B.Lynch 84 T.McLean 83 T.Boyd 80 M.Wallis 79 D.Morris 76 C.Daniel 72 M.Bontempelli 67 E.Richards 59 L.Dahlhaus 53 J.Schache 49 R.Smith 49 S.Biggs 48 P.Lipinski 34 A.Naughton 32 B.Gowers 31 Z.Cordy 24 HAW: L.Breust 165 B.McEvoy 135 J.Gunston 122 J.Roughead 117 D.Howe 113 I.Smith 106 J.O'Meara 101 J.Sicily 93 L.Shiels 92 R.Henderson 80 T.Mitchell 79 H.Morrison 69 J.Frawley 59 B.Stratton 58 J.Impey 52 J.Ceglar 51 T.Miles 51 R.Burton 50 P.Puopolo 46 T.Duryea 46 B.Hardwick 38 J.O'Rourke 30
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Hawthorn has defeated the Western Bulldogs by 63 points at Etihad Stadium. The first half was hotly contested and incredibly free-flowing. Both teams moved the ball with incredible speed and precision. The Bulldogs brought the pressure that saw them perform so well over the past two weeks. Jason Johannisen was phenomenal. He was almost single-handedly responsible for the slingshot that swarmed the Hawthorn back-line. Luke Bruest was incredible in the first term, kicking four goals and keeping Hawthorn in the contest. Ben McEvoy was dominant in the ruck, leaving Tom Boyd in his wake both in the contest and around the ground. The Second half was something of an entirely different ilk. The Bulldogs pressure almost immediately evaporated. In contrast to the first half, the elite Hawthorn ball users were able to move the ball with ease. James Morrison was sent to shut down Johannisen and was incredibly successful at doing so. His absence was remarkably impactful. The Dogs lost the speed that broke the game open in the first half. Jack Gunston and Jarryd Roughead relished the exceptional foot skills that the Hawks midfield displayed, kicking four second-half goals each. Probably most impressively for the Hawks was this performance came as Tom Mitchell had perhaps his worst game for the year. Shiels, O'Meara, Smith and Howe all stood up and were formidable in the middle. The Bulldogs will be left to lick their wounds. Beveridge will likely be apoplectic at the effort produced by his players in the second half. In stark contrast, Clarkson will focus on the easier month ahead of his team. Brisbane, Carlton, Fremantle, and Essendon await the Hawks in the coming weeks. Hawthorn will have their eyes on not only the eight but finding their way into a home final. The only negative for the Hawks was the head clash, which saw Ben McEvoy leave the stadium.
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Hawthorn have defeated the Bulldogs by 63 points at Etihad Stadium The Hawks have been impressive tonight, are they a threat now? You'd think their form has been too sporadic, but they are Hawthorn after all. Summary coming soon. Full-Time Western Bulldogs: 9.2.59 Hawthorn Hawks: 17.8.122
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Goal Hawks The Hawks just slingshot with little opposition and Henderson waltzes inside 50 and gives it to Gunston who kicks another goal. 1 minutes till the end of the game Western Bulldogs: 9.2.59 Hawthorn Hawks: 17.8.122
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Sicily takes his eleventh mark of the game with another intercept. No more than 20 seconds later, Sicily takes a mirror image mark for his twelfth. It's hard to pick who the best Hawks have been as so many have found some serious touch, On a sombre note, McEvoy is seen leaving the sheds, off to the hospital. 2 minutes till the end of the game Western Bulldogs: 9.2.59 Hawthorn Hawks: 17.8.116
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Goal Hawks The Hawks are still diligent with their ball movement until Sicily bites too much off and turn it over. He redeems himself by intercepting the following return kick The ball bounces around the Hawks forward half, and Bruest gets it to Smith who gathers and kicks the goal. 4 minutes till the end of the game Western Bulldogs: 9.2.59 Hawthorn Hawks: 17.8.116
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Goal Bulldogs The Dogs finally go forward and Bontempelli finds the ball inside 50 and gives it out to Wallis who snaps the goal. 6 minutes till the end of the game Western Bulldogs: 9.2.59 Hawthorn Hawks: 17.8.110
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Goal Hawks Smith has been great in the second half. Lynch tries to take the game on in their defensive 50 but is caught with the ball. Roughead takes the opportunity and kicks his fourth. Hunter and Norton have now gone down. Norton doesn't look good. He needs the help of the trainers to get off the ground. 7 minutes till the end of the game Western Bulldogs: 8.2.53 Hawthorn Hawks: 17.8.110
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Goal Bulldogs Just four disposals for Johannisen in the second half. The Dogs take the advantage from their half-back and find Daniel inside 50 who runs into 20 and puts it through for the Dogs first goal this half. Daniel Howe is now out of the game with a knee injury, but his game has been incredible. 8 minutes till the end of the game Western Bulldogs: 8.2.53 Hawthorn Hawks: 16.8.104
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
MASSIVE CLASH OF HEADS BETWEEN MCEVOY AND DUNKELY. Both players have blood flowing freely from their faces. Dunkley is up and fine, but McEvoy has had to go off in a bad way. Possible eye socket break, massive collision. 9 minutes till the end of the game Western Bulldogs: 7.2.47 Hawthorn Hawks: 16.8.104
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
You feel this second half has been more a case of Hawthorn's brilliance as opposed to a poor Bulldogs outfit. Bruest, O'Meara, McEvoy, Roughead, and Gunston have been exceptional. The Hawks are just chipping it around the back-line, manipulating the Dogs defence. They eventually go down the line, and Duryea is wrapped up in an exceptional Morris tackle. 10 minutes till the end of the game Western Bulldogs: 7.2.47 Hawthorn Hawks: 16.8.104
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Goal Hawks Bruest gets it again on the half-forward flank and finds Roughy on the lead. He goes back and makes no mistake. This is all a bit too easy for the Hawks now. 12 minutes till the end of the game Western Bulldogs: 7.2.47 Hawthorn Hawks: 16.8.104
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Hawks’ ball movement has been 1st class tonight.
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Behind HawksGunston gets on the end of a good chain, he kicks from where the 50 meets the boundary line and it's narrow. Bruest has been exceptional off the ball as well, his tackle pressure has been elite and the Dogs have been regularly panicked with their foot skills. 12 minutes till the end of the game Western Bulldogs: 7.2.47 Hawthorn Hawks: 15.8.98
anon
Roar Pro
Very good Hawthorn for a team that is transitioning their list. Top 4 is still on for them.
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Behind Hawks Luke Bruest is found 20 out on a ridiculously tight angle, he hits it good, but it hit the post. 14 minutes till the end of the game Western Bulldogs: 7.2.47 Hawthorn Hawks: 15.7.97
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Roughead with a huge fist on centre wing, it hit the second deck! The Dogs rebound it quickly from the back half through Bontempelli, but the Hawks cut it off. 15 minutes till the end of the game Western Bulldogs: 7.2.47 Hawthorn Hawks: 15.6:96
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Goal Hawks The Hawks are almost playing with the Dogs now, they flick the switch and unleash a wave of hard running and Issac Smith runs into goal and scores. The Hawks are trying to play some slower football now. Controlling the ball with lateral marks. Bontempelli has had an incredibly underwhelming night for him. Daniel Howe has done an incredible job on him. 16 minutes till the end of the game Western Bulldogs: 7.2.47 Hawthorn Hawks: 15.6:96
Nicholas Richardson
Roar Guru
Wallis was completely out on his own, but a brilliant spoil from Stratton stopped a certain mark. O'Meara wins the ball out of the contest and it is hacked out. It is paid deliberate and the Dogs hack it back in, but the Hawks rebound immediately. 18 minutes till the end of the game Western Bulldogs: 7.2.47 Hawthorn Hawks: 14.6:90