This game was set to be enormous. A win for the Bulldogs meant that they would be back to their best after a shaky first half of the year. As for the Hawks, a win for them meant they were a serious finals contender, who at one stage were 1-6 but haven’t lost ever since.
I settled down on the couch in front of the heater, and soon enough, the game got underway. The dewy MCG grass would probably cause a low scoring match, consisting of hard fought contests. That’s exactly what the game was. The Hawks had the better of the early play. Renouf was paid a mark (a terrible decision) in which he kicked a goal, Higgins answered from the set shot and even at this stage it looked apparent that this match would be a great one. Roughead, who for once, had a good game, nailed one, as did Hodge who burst through a pack and dribbled it through the northern goals. Grant squeezed a goal through at the other end from the goal square, and Hall got in on the act to level the scores. 3.0 to 3.0, a great start. Brian Lake, as we so often see, was running off Franklin, taking mark after mark and getting possession after possession, but still holding Franklin goalless, at least for the first quarter. Giansiracusa, who was used mainly deep in the forward line for the night, ruined the accuracy with the game’s first behind, but Griffen swung on to his right foot from outside fifty, kicking a fantastic goal. It was the Bulldogs by a goal at the first break.
The second quarter began and the frantic goal-for-goal game continued. Franklin found space and kicked his first, and Hall somehow squeezed a goal through at the other end, which was the last good thing that the Bulldog did for the night. This is responded to by a fantastic clearance from Luke Hodge, sharked by Rioli in the forward line who kicked his first, and also had 14 possessions in the first half. Franklin received a fifty against Lake and put the Hawks a goal in front. It seemed like the game was about to swing Hawthorn’s way, with Hodge, Rioli, Mitchell, Burgoyne and Birchall providing plenty of run for the Hawks. Giansiracusa kicked his second for the quarter to yet again level the scores, and the half was almost rounded out by a fantastic goal on the run to Brad Johnson, who looked magnificent in his second game back from injury. The Bulldogs lead by two points.
The third quarter got underway and Renouf grabbed the ball out of the ruck and almost snapped a remarkable goal. The Hawks got in front from two more behinds, which was ironic, considering how little behinds were scored in the first half. The highlight of the game, almost, followed to put the Bulldogs in front. Callan Ward, number 14, back in for his first game of the year, in Round 14, spun out of trouble to deliver to Johnson in the goal square, who kicked a team-lifting goal. Jarrad Grant followed up with a behind, a player who is widely criticized for his kicking. Roughead took a fantastic contested mark in the forward line before dishing off to Rioli who put his second through the sticks. The game went up a notch when Cooney shrugged a tackle and put through another goal. It was the Dogs by five points at three quarter time. A hard fought contest up to this point made the last quarter even more attractive. Sam Reid, with two dodgy shoulders, and his illness to cope with off the field, was putting in his all for the Dogs.
The last quarter started and it became apparent that the Bulldogs had the ascendancy. A few shots at goal went astray by the Dogs, but the amazing can happen- two goals from Hawthorn, both from the same pocket, one from Roughead, and a Captain’s goal from Mitchell, and all of a sudden the Hawks had hit the lead. Rob Murphy’s determination was highlighted as he dribbled through a goal from the pocket, putting his side back in front. The Hawks got another pair; Hodge tricked the players around him, and from a standing start kicked a ripper, while Franklin converted a textbook goal from the flank. As the clock ticked down to less than a minute a Bulldogs victory is almost impossible. However, Grant is received a fifty metre penalty, and kicked it from 30. Unfortunately, the Dogs ran out of time, despite the efforts of Easton Wood. What a game.
Hawthorn’s three point win meant that they have not only won another tight match at the MCG (their last five games at the MCG have been wins by 16 points or less) but they have now proved some people, namely Josh Barnstable, that they are a fierce, and unsociable side like they were back in the glory days of 2008. What has been the driving force for this seven-game winning streak? The renaissance of Lance Franklin (and the fact that he has stopped getting himself suspended)? Luke Hodge’s determination and class? However, there are two other players who are the ones behind this streak. The reason is as clear as a plastic bag- Shaun Burgoyne and Wayde Skipper. They both came into the Hawthorn team for the first time this season (and ever) in Round 8 against Richmond. They have not lost in a losing side during their time in the side. Both 27 years of age, Shaun Burgoyne has obviously had a much better career before this season. He was the missing link of the Hawthorn midfield chain at the start of the season. As for Skipper, he was rejected a lot during his 44-game and seven-year stint at the Bulldogs. But when Hawthorn has needed him as their second ruckman, he has stood up. At only 194cm, each week he gives away some height in his contests. But his leap and marking ability set him aside from any regular ruckman. The Hawthorn Football Club must be ecstatic at the moment.
Hawthorn 3.1—7.1—8.6—12.7 (79)
Western Bulldogs 4.1—7.3—9.5—11.10 (76)
Goals
Hawthorn: Franklin 3, Hodge 2, Roughead 2, Rioli 2, Mitchell, Renouf, Muston.
Western Bulldogs: Giansiracusa 2, Hall 2, Grant 2, Higgins, Griffen, Johnson, Murphy, Cooney.
Best
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Franklin, Hodge, Rioli, Birchall, Roughead.
Western Bulldogs: Boyd, Lake, Murphy, Reid, Cooney, Griffen, Cross.
Umpires: Vozzo, McBurney, Farmer. Crowd: 47,484 at the MCG.
My Votes: 3. Sam Mitchell (HAW), 2. Matthew Boyd (WB), 1. Lance Franklin (HAW).
