Hawthorn have celebrated veteran Jack Gunston’s 250th game in style with a stunning 27-point win over Adelaide.
The Hawks jumped the Crows from the first bounce with a five-goal opening term, and refused to wilt to claim the 16.11 (107) to 12.8 (80) victory at the MCG.
Dylan Moore was the five-goal hero, while Gunston contributed three – including a set shot seconds out from full time that saw every Hawk come running in to celebrate.
The win is Hawthorn’s fourth in five games – with their only loss the heartbreaking one-point defeat to Port Adelaide.
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But the victory was soured by the report of Changkuoth Jiath for a headbutt in the second term.
For Adelaide, coach Matthew Nicks was left frustrated after claiming his side coughed up “one of our worst first halves we’ve had in a long time”.
And the loss was further compounded by star Taylor Walker’s back injury that saw him subbed out and miss the second half.
THE 3-2-1…
3 – HAWKS FLY IN BATTLE OF THE BIRDS
Hawthorn’s habit of winning as underdog continues to take the AFL by storm, and now, crazily, gives them a leg up to jump into finals contention after a thumping win over Adelaide.
In the battle of the birds, the Hawks led from the start – keeping their foot on the Crows’ throat all day in one if, if not their best performance yet of 2024.
Their ferocity from the get-go was evident, as highlighted by Geelong champion Cameron Mooney at quarter time.
“We spoke about Hawthorn’s pressure and how they’ve done it in the last month, it’s been absolutely brilliant – well we saw it that first quarter,” Mooney said.
“Hawthorn scoring three goals from turnovers really got the game going their way.”
Mid-forward Dylan Moore was the main star of the show with his five goals before three-quarter time; in one of his best ever games at the top level.
His 27 disposals had him involved in a whopping 12 score involvements; three more than any teammate and seven more than any Crows player.
Speaking on Hawthorn’s dominance at half-time for Fox Footy, three-time Richmond premiership player Jack Riewoldt was glowing of their game plan.
“I think, all over the ground at the moment, Hawthorn’s system and the way they’re moving the ball actually looks like a really good football team,” Riewoldt said.
“They’re just taking their opportunities. If they are seeing one-on-ones, Hawthorn, their ability just to get it and get it to the guys who are quick and can use the ball and then use it well inside 50.
“From that point of view, the way they are moving the ball (has been impressive). We know it’s been a huge shift for them over the last month… they are just getting it inside 50 and when they get it there, they’re marking it as well.”
Riewoldt also applauded Moore for his efforts up to the main break; no doubt a compliment coming from a player who kicked 787 career AFL goals.
“He looks like the most dangerous player on the ground,” Riewoldt said of Moore.
Milestone man Jack Gunston also well and truly came to the party in his 250th game, kicking 3.1 from his 14 disposals and seven marks.
His performance certainly played a role in the Hawks taking the four points over his old side, with Gunston playing 14 games at the Crows in 2010 and 2011 before his first move to Hawthorn.
2 – CROWS SHOW GLIMPSES AMID GREAT INCONSISTENCY
Amid what was clearly a day out for the Hawks, the Crows still managed to show patches of game-breaking football during the second half.
Their slow start left them reeling in the first half, and down by 29 points at the main break – and arguably far closer than they should have been.
Captain Jordan Dawson was evidently struggling all day with a foot injury, and left the Crows midfield down break point before the ball was even bounced at the stoppage.
Spontaneous surges on the scoreboard didn’t come until it was arguably too late for the red, yellow and blue – and more frustratingly than anything for Crows fans, showed they had the potential to match it with a rampant Hawthorn.
The Crows were smoked in the inside 50 count 63-41, as well as the all-important clearance count 39-29.
It was only marks in the generic stat lines that the Crows trumped the Hawks for, however its importance is questionable at best given the style of play undertaken by both sides.
Mature recruit Chris Burgess stepped up in the absence of an injured Taylor Walker, who was subbed out at half time with a back complaint.
Burgess, who has been in scintillating form at SANFL level this year, finished with three goals; two of which came in the final quarter with great aerial presence.
Braeden Cook also chipped in with three goals of his own, with his services certainly necessary if Walker’s absence stretches beyond this weekend.
Jack Riewoldt’s analysis of the Crows’ efforts at half time was reflective of the takeaways that will ring in the ears of Matthew Nicks – as the end margin isn’t entirely reflective of the end margin.
“They need to turn and go,” Riewoldt said of Adelaide’s attacking mindset.
“They have got forwards that are good on the lead-up, so at the moment they are just relying on slow, sort of monotonous footy, and then they (finally) go ‘well, let’s change the gears’.
“The other aspect is handball receives, so how do you generate more speed? How do you generate more play-ons? Actually get the ball and then be able to penetrate and get those small little lead-ups that they’re so good at.”
Matt Crouch was exceptional in the engine room, leading the charge in Dawson’s absence with 35 disposals, nine marks and seven clearances in another big individual performance this season.
But unfortunately for Crows fans, their wildly inconsistent outing has now all but cost them a shot at finals in 2024 – and would stretch their finals drought to a whopping seven years.
1 – NERVOUS WAIT FOR HAWKS DEFENDER AFTER STRANGE HEADBUTT
In a bizarre incident during the second quarter, Hawthorn defender Changkuoth Jiath overturned a Jack Ginnivan shot on goal from close range after headbutting Crows defender Mitch Hinge.
The odd interaction prevented the Hawks from kicking even further ahead in the second term, and is almost certain to come under MRO scrutiny tomorrow.
Fox Footy reporter David Zita shared the likely Match Review ramifications for the 48-gamer, who was reported on the spot for his indiscretion.
“That will come across the MRO’s desk,” Zita began during Fox Footy’s half-time coverage.
“Intentional conduct is how headbutts are usually graded. So, it only has to be low impact, obviously high contact being a headbutt to the head, and it would be a one-week suspension.
“He’s just got back in the team from a long injury lay-off, and he might be heading back out again for at least a week.”
It was a day to forget for Jiath on multiple fronts, after finishing the match with a mere seven disposals and two tackles.
The precedent set for Western Bulldogs forward James Harmes earlier this season may be an indication on Jiath’s fate come tomorrow evening.
Harmes headbutted former teammate Jack Billings in Round 1 against Melbourne, and was subsequently suspended for one match.
HAWTHORN v ADELAIDE – MATCH UPDATES
Jack Ginnivan was the recipient of Hawthorn’s first mark inside 50, but failed to convert from his set shot to kick the first minor score of the day.
Teammate Calsher Dear followed up from further out on a tighter angle a couple of minutes later, but pushed his kick to the left to give the Hawks a two-point lead four minutes in.
Recently recalled ruck Ned Reeves made no mistake soon after though, slotting a set shot from the right side to kick the first major this Saturday afternoon.
Milestone man Gunston kicked his first for the encounter from a set shot too, with teammates running from everywhere to get around him in game 250.
Dylan Moore strolled into an open goal halfway through the quarter for the Hawks’ third unanswered goal, extending their margin to 20 points.
“He is one of the craftiest footballers, and smartest footballers in the league,” three-time Richmond premiership player Jack Riewoldt said on Fox Footy’s live coverage.
Jack Ginnivan joined the party with five minutes to go, snapping truly in traffic to extend the margin to 26 points.
“They are unstoppable the Hawks,” exclaimed commentator Anthony Hudson.
Lachie Murphy finally kicked the Crows’ first for the afternoon, also snapping truly on his left foot deep in the pocket.
Blake Hardwick replied instantly for the Hawks, before Adelaide’s Harry Schoenberg kicked the final goal for the quarter, relying on a leg-break bounce through the goals to get the job done.
The Hawks lead the Crows by 20 points at the first break, and have dominated open play – with Dylan Moore and Jack Gunston the most impactful from the hosts.
Jake Soligo leads the visitors’ disposal count so far with nine disposals so far.
Dylan Moore gave Hawthorn the best possible start to the second quarter, slotting a magnificent set shot from the right forward pocket before a mark straight in front of goal gave him his third goal for the day, and a 32-point lead over Adelaide.
Adelaide finished the quarter with several behinds, but couldn’t convert to leave them goalless in the second term.
Subsequently, the Hawks lead the Crows by 29 points at the main break, with Dylan Moore’s trifecta of goals and 12 disposals a standout performance.
In a further blow for Adelaide, Taylor Walker has been subbed out with a back injury at half time, with Sam Berry injected into the game as his replacement.
Things went from bad to worse from the get go in the second half for Adelaide, as Jack Gunston and Dylan Moore added to their goal tallies to have two and four goals respectively.
Clasher Dear also joined the party, kicking his first for the afternoon.
“You’ve just got to get some different looks in the centre square at the moment, because they are being slaughtered,” Garry Lyon said on commentary.
“Even get (Mitch) Hinge in there with a bit of presence.”
Darcy Fogarty finally kicked Adelaide’s first goal since the opening quarter with a magnificent drop punt set shot in the right forward pocket, before Chris Burgess converted from short range.
A flurry of goals came late in the third quarter, as Braeden Cook responded with back-to-back goals after Dylan Moore’s fifth for the day.
The Crows looked like they would be in reaching distance heading into the final break, before a snapping Jack Ginnivan on the siren blew Hawthorn’s lead back out to 33 points.
Matt Crouch was best on ground in the third term, accumulating 12 disposals, four tackles and two clearances in the quarter.
The Crows needed the first goal – and got it through Lachlan Sholl after a clumsy tackle attempt by Luke Breust.
But just as Adelaide looked to be mounting the comeback, Breust made up for his error to steady the Hawks and push the buffer out to beyond six goals.
When Connor Macdonald went back and nailed his set shot, the match was Hawthorns as coach Sam Mitchell made his way to the bench.
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