HAWTHORN 4.3 7.7 11.11 17.11 (113)
BRISBANE LIONS 2.2 5.4 7.6 11.9 (75)
GOALS: Hawthorn -Â Henderson 3, Smith 2, Roughead 2, O'Brien 2, Hartung, McEvoy, Rioli, Howe, Gunston, Breust, Shiels, Burgoyne. Brisbane Lions -Â Hipwood 2, Barrett 2, Walker 2, Berry, Bewick, Lester, Bell, Rockliff.
BEST: Hawthorn - Mitchell, Shiels, McEvoy, Burgoyne, Henderson, Smith. Brisbane Lions: Rockliff, Andrews, Zorko, Hipwood, Martin, Gardiner.
INJURIES: Hawthorn - Rioli (knee); Stratton (leg). Brisbane Lions: Rockliff (shoulder).
UMPIRES: Jeffery, Mitchell, O'Gorman.
CROWD: 10,553 at Aurora Stadium.
For long stretches of the first half, this match looked like exactly what it was: a battle against the 16th-placed team on the ladder versus 18th. How extraordinary to think that the 16th-placed team, Hawthorn, is the most successful of the past decade, still with a healthy proportion of triple and quadruple premiership players.
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Hawks build momentum over Lions
Hawthorn prevailed over the Brisbane Lions after a strong second half.
And the 18th team? The Lions could hardly have been worse over the past few years, and have played in just one finals series since 2004. Yet they went into this game at Launceston a real chance of knocking over the stumbling Hawks – at least if their effort could overcome their calamitous error rate.
For Lions coach, Chris Fagan – for so long at Alastair Clarkson's side at Hawthorn – it was an opportunity he must have anticipated with some relish. It didn't pan out as he would have wanted, the Hawks over-running the Lions to run out 38-point winners with 10 goals to six in the second half. Still, it wasn't for want of trying.
Hawthorn's victory was built on a familiar trait: they were too clean and too efficient, especially by foot, capitalising on their less experienced opponents' mistakes. But the final margin flattered them: eight minutes into the final quarter, the difference was 21 points, and it was less than that for much of the game.
Skill remains the Lions' most glaring weakness. In the 14th minute of the first quarter, a hesitant Michael Close bombed aimlessly into attack, allowing the Hawks to stream the ball back downfield, Jarryd Roughead handing the ball to young Tim O'Brien for the easiest of goals.
Six minutes later, Claye Beams had his kick-in chopped off by Cyril Rioli for Roughead to get in on the action himself. Then Dayne Zorko kicked across goal in defence to see Isaac Smith, who was tagged but made the most of every touch, sweep up for his team's fourth.
In between, Daniel Rich, usually one of the Lions' better ball users, made three consecutive clangers, then opened the second quarter with a penalty for kicking the ball deliberately out of bounds. Beams kicked another out on the full; then Tom Bell did the same with what should have been a relatively straightforward snap for goal.
And yet, somehow, the Lions were still in the game. First-year player Jarrod Berry had kept them within striking distance of the Hawks with a late goal from a free kick in the first quarter. Six minutes into the second, rookie and former Giant Jake Barrett got one out the back to make the margin just seven points.
It was goal for goal from there, Bell cutting the difference to two points running onto a fine kick by Lewis Taylor; only for Smith to hit back with his second from a beautifully read throw-in. Eric Hipwood – a future star – responded with his second from a strong chest mark and thumping kick against the breeze.
Hipwood really has everything it takes to take the competition by storm in the coming years. His height and reach alone won him several free kicks, but it's his attack on the football and agility that stands out. He's a long way ahead of Josh Schache, a No.2 draft pick who's yet to really make his mark as a forward.
At the other end, Harris Andrews continues to develop. He had the better of Roughead for much of the game, only losing his opponent to give away a second goal in the last quarter – and that was because he was distracted instructing a teammate. His poise and direction in the backline gives the Lions real hope.
But they're 19 and 20, respectively. Red time saw the Lions give up two goals at the end of the half, and by late in the third quarter, you could see them beginning to tire, struggling to get their hands on the football as the Hawks kicked 29 points clear, with four goals to two for the quarter.
There would be no comeback from there, with the Lions kicking against a stiff breeze. After Walker gave them the faintest of sniffs with a goal against the run of play, quick replies from Roughead and Liam Shiels – excellent in his 150th game – putting the result beyond doubt.
Both sides have some injury concerns in the week ahead, with stand-in Lions captain Tom Rockliff dislocating a shoulder in the last quarter after a tremendous game in which he notched 16 clearances and 13 tackles, and Rioli coming from the ground late in the third quarter after a knock to the knee.
VOTES
T Mitchell (Haw) 8
T Rockliff (BL) 8
L Shiels (BL) 7
B McEvoy (Haw) 7
H Andrews (BL) 6