HAWTHORN 5.2 6.6 11.12 14.13 (97)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 5.1 8.3 10.3 15.7 (97)
Goals: Hawthorn: W Langford 3 L Breust 2 R Henderson 2 T Duryea 2 J Roughead K Stewart S Burgoyne T Mitchell T O'Brien. Greater Western Sydney: J Patton 5 D Smith 2 T Scully 2 C Ward J Cameron J Kelly L Whitfield R Lobb T Mzungu
Best:Â Hawthorn:Â Mitchell, McEvoy, Hartung, Langford, Sicily, Burgoyne. GWS:Â Ward, Kelly, Shiel, Patton, Scully
Umpires: Matt Stevic, Andrew Mitchell, Andrew Stephens.
Official Crowd: 12,156 at University of Tasmania Stadium.
Hawthorn's finals hopes are still flickering after a tumbling snap from Will Langford with 12 seconds remaining secured a draw against Greater Western Sydney in Launceston on Saturday.
The Hawks had led by 21 points early in the final term but, in what had seemed a blink of an eye, found themselves trailing by two goals with minutes remaining.
The Hawks dragged one back when Luke Breust marked in the pocket and converted, before they were able to lock the ball in their forward 50 in the final minutes. When the ball was knocked out to Langford in heavy traffic about 25 metres from goal, he quickly put boot to ball. It bounced just outside the goal square and, luckily for the Hawks but agonisingly for the Giants, leapt over the head of defender Heath Shaw and through for a major.
There were 12 seconds remaining when play resumed. The bustling Hawks were able to push the ball forward, where Ryan Burton – running towards goal – enterprisingly attempted to punch it over the line from about 20m out. He did but the siren sounded just before he made contact. He asked the umpires for a review but they insisted the siren had blown.
Veteran defender Luke Hodge said Burton had been a second late.
"We heard it – in saying that it was pretty smart from 'Burto' in that situation," he said.
For the Giants, they became the first team since Carlton in 1921 to have back-to-back draws, having experienced the same mixed emotions against Geelong a week earlier when Tom Hawkins kicked a point.
The draw was enough to keep the Hawks, also with six wins, in finals contention although it remains a major challenge to feature in September.
When the contest was at its fiercest, it was Dylan Shiel, Callan Ward and Josh Kelly who got busy in the midfield for the Giants and almost willed their side home. The imposing Jonathon Patton also enjoyed a strong day, finishing with five goals, including two in the final term.
The record-breaking Tom Mitchell would finish with 39 disposals, becoming the first man to have 30 or more disposals for 12 straight weeks. Importantly, he would have an impact with metres gained – one area he has been questioned over.
This was a contest where both sides showed tremendous fight and sensed how important the occasion was. For the Giants, there had been the opportunity of enjoying outright top spot on the ladder.
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson has been typically innovative in his coaching in recent weeks, including rewiring Daniel Howe into being a tagger – his task on this occasion the elusive Shiel.
Intriguingly, Clarkson regularly sent two of his half-forwards into defence at centre-bounces, thus crowding the Giants' tall attacking 50 of Patton, Jeremy Cameron and Rory Lobb. The ploy had its benefits, with the Giants having to find ways to open up their attacking 50. At one stage, Patton was sent into defensive 50.
The Hawks led by a point at quarter-time, having opening up a 13-point break when Mitchell, Langford and Tim O'Brien converted. They would have been disappointed in two of the Giants' goals coming from a relayed free kick down the ground and a 50m penalty.
The Giants were keen to lift their work rate in the contest in the second term and did just that. The rewards were on show when Devon Smith bobbed up for his second, and the recycled Tendai Mzungu found space. When Shiel delivered a well-weighted pass to Paton on the lead, and the latter converted from about 40m, the Giants had booted five straight.
The Giants' run was telling but finally was halted when Ben McEvoy and Phil Davis collided in a heavy clash at centre half-forward, the ball eventually landing in the hands of Ricky Henderson who found himself running into goal alone. The Hawks were opportunistic in this regard through the afternoon.
They wasted several opportunities in an entertaining third term when the pressure lifted. Ryan Schoenmakers, McEvoy and Langford all missed set shots but when the busy Kade Stewart snapped successfully with under a minute left, they had opened up a 15-point buffer, setting up one of the more thrilling finishes seen this year.
Votes
8: Dylan Shiel (GWS)
8: Callan Ward (GWS)
8: Josh Jelly (GWS)
8: Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn)Â
8: Jonathon Patton (GWS)