HAWTHORN Â 2.5Â Â 4.11Â Â 7.15Â Â 16.18 Â (114)
RICHMOND Â Â 2.5Â Â 3.7 Â Â 3.11 Â Â Â 5.14 Â Â (44)
GOALS -Â Hawthorn: Â Rioli 3, Gunston 3, Sicily 3, Â Breust 2, Â McEvoy, Â Whitecross, Â Gibson, Â O'Rourke, Â Puopolo. Richmond: Riewoldt 2, Â Rioli, Drummond, Â Cotchin.
BEST - Hawthorn: Hill, Gibson, Mitchell, Lewis, Gunston, Frawley. Richmond: Martin, Rance, Cotchin, Grigg.
UMPIRESÂ Schmitt, Kamolins, Brown.
CROWDÂ 51,892 at MCG.
In Sam Mitchell's debut in 2002, playing Richmond, he had four possessions, total. In his 300th game on Sunday, coincidentally also against Richmond, he had four inside the first four minutes, including a shot on goal, a rarity. He missed.
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Stunning fourth quarter sees Hawks home
It took three quarters for Hawthorn to reach top gear but they managed it in style with seven fourth quarter goals giving the Hawks a 70-point win over Richmond as they consolidated the top spot on the table.
Between these two figures lies the growth of Mitchell the footballer and the evolution of the game from the bumping and thumping of Brisbane ascendancy's into the rapid-fire spectacle it mostly is today. Mitchell would finish with 38 touches, the Hawks with a resounding win, their 14th win of the season and a two-game buffer at the top of the ladder. Two more indomitable forces there have rarely been than Hawthorn and Mitchell.
And yet this, though a comprehensive win, was not simple. Games against Richmond rarely are for Hawthorn. This has been a peculiarity of the Mitchell era. In his time, only Geelong (by a wide margin) and Port Adelaide (oddly enough) have a better record against the Hawks than the generally low-flying Tigers. It is an oddity without obvious explanation that has imprinted itself into the consciousness of both teams. Simply, the Tigers ever so slightly spook the Hawks.
So it was for a while on this wintry Sunday late afternoon. Hawthorn was sloppy by their standards, Richmond initially earnest by their standards, and that put them just about on level terms. The swirling wind acted as a free radical. A mostly grim battle ensued, at least for three quarters, with the ball stalled for long periods at half-back at each end.
Hawthorn bossed Richmond in every measurable quality except the one called Dustin Martin, which spills over several columns. It helps Martin that no-one can lay a hand on him. File it under "tackles broken". Otherwise, Hawthorn in the first half was like the sky, looking at any moment as if it was about to fall in on the Tigers. Yet they kicked only four first-half goals, and two of those were from Richmond howlers. Plainly, other forces, less definable, were at work. As for kicking at goal at both ends, the best we can say is that we wish they had.
All the while Mitchell trudged on. This is neither the place nor space to explore all his secrets, but here is one. Whenever he gets the ball in a metre of space, he props, just for a moment. It means he can go anywhere and anyway, long, short, hand, foot, left, right. By moving only as much as needed, he had made an epic journey. We tend to talk in terms of possession, but the emphasis should be as it is on the stats sheet, disposals. Some players _ and this day many of them _ get rid of the ball. Mitchell files it in exactly the correct place. His kicks pierced, his handballs were pinpoint. He might be the most efficient player of all.
As ever, and everywhere, Richmond appeared torn about whether or not to tag him. This is another Mitchell thing, career-long, age-old. If you don't tag him, he gets it. If you do, he gets it anyway. Richmond came no closer to an answer this day than anyone else.
At long length, the figurative sky did fall in. Nine last quarter goals for Hawthorn saw to it. With nothing to play for, Richmond played nothing football. Where once goals had been few, rudely earned and scrappy, now they the quality of a catwalk presentation, Cyril Rioli supplying the pirouettes. You could say these all were post-script, but the post-script is part of the Hawthorn tale, for they are never less than thorough. The Hawks are one of few teams who can win by 12 goals even on a day off.