Media articles & stats: Hawthorn too good for much-improved Tigers

[one-eyed]

Match report: Hawthorn too good for much-improved Tigers

AFL.com.au
May 6, 2016

RICHMOND         3.4   6.7   10.11   13.12 (90)
HAWTHORN        4.2   9.4   12.8   21.10 (136)

GOALS

Richmond: Vickery 3, Riewoldt 3, Short 2, Miles 2, Lloyd, Vlastuin, Griffiths
Hawthorn: Breust 6, Gunston 4, Puopolo 3, Smith, Sicily, Shiels, Rioli, Lewis, Ceglar, Hill, Hartung 

BEST 

Richmond: Martin, Miles, Grigg, Vlastuin,Riewoldt, Edwards
Hawthorn: Hartung, Gunston, Breust, Lewis, Smith, Rioli, Puopolo

INJURIES 

Richmond: Batchelor (knee)
Hawthorn: Sam Mitchell (corked calf) replaced in the selected side by Kieran Lovell

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Rosebury, Mollison, Wallace

Official crowd: 49,678 at the MCG

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HAWTHORN has piled on 12 of the last 15 goals to turn a desperately tight contest against Richmond into a comfortable 46-point win at the MCG on Friday night, but questions remain about their premiership bona fides.

Taking the field without Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Jarryd Roughead for the first time since Alastair Clarkson took over as coach in 2005, the Hawks looked in desperate trouble when the Tigers kicked the opening four goals of the third term to turn a 15-point half-time deficit into a 12-point lead.

But Hawthorn found the counter-punch it needed, kicking the final three goals of the third term to take a nine-point lead into the last break, and then rammed on nine goals to three in the final quarter to record a 21.10 (136) to 13.12 (90) win.

Luke Breust was the star for the Hawks with six goals, including three in the final quarter, while Jack Gunston and Paul Puopolo were also dangerous in attack, kicking four and three goals respectively.

Importantly, all three forwards found ways to hit the scoreboard at times when the momentum was with Richmond at times during the first three quarters.

After Mitchell's late withdrawal with a corked calf, acting skipper Jordan Lewis (28 possessions and one goal) stood up in the midfield, while Shaun Burgoyne also took on a more prominent on-ball role and Josh Gibson was his usual steadying influence in the back half.

Billy Hartung (28 possessions and one goal) penetrated the Tigers' defences with his run in his first game back from a week in the VFL, while Isaac Smith (25 and one) worked just as tirelessly up and down the ground.

The Hawks entered Friday night's came on the back of their worst loss in seven years, a 75-point defeat by Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium last Saturday that prompted some, including club great Jason Dunstall, to rule them out of this year's premiership calculations.

Friday night's win would not have convinced the sceptics that the Hawks' quest for a record-equalling fourth consecutive premiership is back on track, but it takes them to a 5-2 record safe in the knowledge they will improve when injured 'soldiers' Mitchell, Hodge and Roughead return.

The Tigers had won three of their past four clashes against Hawthorn entering Friday night's game, but their loss saw them slump to 1-6, their worst record after round seven since coach Damien Hardwick's first season, 2010.

But there was a lot to like about the performance and the Tigers' inaccuracy at the start of the third quarter – they kicked four goals from seven scoring shots – cost them the chance to put more scoreboard pressure on Hawthorn.

Dustin Martin (28 possessions) was outstanding for Richmond all night, helping to cover the big hole left by injured skipper Trent Cotchin in the midfield.

Fellow midfielder Anthony Miles (24 possessions) was instrumental in the Tigers' third-quarter comeback, kicking two goals in two minutes to put them 12 points up, while Shaun Grigg (24) and Brandon Ellis (27) were prolific ball-winners and Shaun Hampson toiled hard in the ruck.

Damien Hardwick guaranteed in the lead-up to Friday night's game that his team would bounce back from its poor start to 2016, and the Tigers coach looked as good as his word when Richmond kicked the opening three goals of the game.

Nick Vlastuin got the Tigers off to the best possible start, snapping a goal on the run within 19 seconds of the opening bounce.

By the seven-minute mark, Jack Riewoldt had chimed in with two goals of his own to extend Richmond's lead to 17 points.

But if anyone sensed the Hawks were about to dish up another lacklustre performance in the wake of the GWS loss, Alastair Clarkson's men soon set them straight.

Breust provided the spark for the Hawks in attack, kicking the game's next three goals, but he could thank Cyril Rioli for the latter two, which were both set up by the Coleman medallist's electrifying defensive pressure.

A Puopolo goal helped send Hawthorn into the first break with a four-point lead, and the reigning premier looked in complete control when Gunston kicked two consecutive goals at the start of the second term to extend its lead to 16.

But Richmond hit back kicking the next three goals – two from Tyrone Vickery – to briefly regain the lead before the Hawks matched that effort through majors from Puopolo, Rioli and Gunston to go into half-time with a 15-point lead.

MEDICAL ROOM

Richmond: TBC.

Hawthorn: Sam Mitchell was a late withdrawal with injury. Hawthorn football operations manager Chris Fagan said the star midfielder had been ruled out with "some soreness with a corked calf".

NEXT UP
Richmond's draw does not get any easier next round when it takes on the Sydney Swans at the MCG on Saturday. The Tigers have won their past two clashes against the Swans, but lost the teams' most recent encounter at the MCG in round 14, 2014. Hawthorn hosts Fremantle at Aurora Stadium on Saturday. The Hawks are undefeated in eight games against the Dockers in Launceston dating back to 2002, but that dominance is not limited to Tasmania, with the reigning premiers winning eight of the teams' past nine clashes.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-06/hawthorn-too-good-for-much-improved-tigers

[Francois Jackson]

Another low crowd. How's the purse going Benny Fail. Will only get worse pal

[one-eyed]

Hawks down Tigers without trio of superstars

Herald-Sun
7 May 2016

HAWTHORN played for the first time in the Alastair Clarkson era without the superstar trio of Mitchell, Hodge and Roughead — and somehow they managed to kick their highest score of the season.

Conclusive evidence on whether the Hawks can seriously challenge for a fourth successive flag will have to wait for another day.

But one thing is certain — Richmond’s 2016 season is all but over.

The Hawks, featuring a new-look side with five players with 10 games or fewer to their names, and with Sam Mitchell as a late withdrawal, took three quarters to shake off the Tigers before powering away in the last term.

It wasn’t pretty, and it was an arm-wrestle for a considerable period of time, but the powerful nine-goal final term pushed the final result out to a comfortable 46-point victory.

The margin may have flattered the Hawks in the end, but it barely mattered. The triple premiers kicked 12 of the last 15 goals of the game to produce a fifth win in a season punctuated by injury and inconsistent form.
Other Stories

Luke Breust kicked his team’s first three goals and last three goals as the perfect bookends.

After the Tigers had kicked the first three goals of the game, it was left to Breust to reel off a string of goals to kick start the Hawks when it was required. And when the Tigers needed to be closed out in the final term, he stepped forward to deliver the last rites to Richmond’s season.
Hawthorn ran away with the game in the final quarter. Photo: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Josh Gibson was outstanding in defence, constantly providing the rebound action required for the Hawks. Jack Gunston bagged three second term goals as the Hawks gained an advantage at a crucial stage of the match before closing out the game with a fourth goal in the final term.

Isaac Smith and Jordan Lewis clawed their way back into form, with Smith providing great run for his team and Lewis digging in with a strong third term after a slow start to the game.

Billy Hartung responded with a fine performance after being dropped last week, Cyril Rioli made a strong impact every time he went near the ball and Paul Puopolo kicked three goals and provided yet another mark of the week candidate as the Hawks’ forward showed too much for their opponents.

The Tigers, themselves missing captain Trent Cotchin and star defender Alex Rance, were competitive for most of the game, but were too easily brushed aside in the avalanche of goals in the final term.

They remain 1-6 on the ladder, and winless since Round 1. Dustin Martin was tireless for his side, and gained the first clearance of the game to give his side the kick inside 50m to find Nick Vlaustin who goaled within the first 20 seconds of the game.

The Tigers had three on the board before the Hawks could get settled, but Breust and his fellow forwards changed all that.

The Hawks led by four points at the first break and opened it out to 15 at the main change. And the game was delicately poised at three-quarter-time when they led by only nine points.

But Richmond reverted back to bad habits and too many turnovers proved costly. Hawthorn opened up with its most prolific quarter of the season to score 9.2 to 3.1 in the final term.

And it doesn’t get any easier for Damien Hardwick’s team as it faces Sydney next week, while the Hawks return to their Tassie haven to take on the winless Fremantle.

HAWTHORN 4.2 9.4 12.8 21.10 (136)

RICHMOND 3.4 6.7 10.11 13.12 (90)

GOALS

Hawthorn: Breust 6, Gunston 4, Puopolo 3, Smith, Sicily, Shiels, Rioli, Lewis, Ceglar, Hill, Hartung

Richmond: Vickery 3, Riewoldt 3, Short 2, Miles 2, Lloyd, Vlastuin, Griffiths

BEST

Hawthorn: Gunston, Breust, Lewis, Gibson, Smith, Hartung, Rioli, Puopolo

Richmond: Martin, Vlaustin, Miles, Vickery, B Ellis, Grigg

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/hawthorn/hawthorn-hawks-defeat-richmond-tigers-by-46-points-at-the-mcg-in-round-7/news-story/3e1ceec6e36fe8d1d5dbfd67859718a9

[one-eyed]

Hawks take flight as Tigers again lack bite

Jon Pierik
The Age
May 7, 2016


HAWTHORN 4.2 9.4 12.8 21.10 (136)
RICHMOND 3.4 6.7 10.11 13.12 (90)

Goals:
Hawthorn: L Breust 6, J Gunston 4, P Puopolo 3, B Hartung, B Hill, C Rioli, I Smith, J Ceglar, J Lewis, J Sicily, L Shiels.
Richmond: J Riewoldt 3, T Vickery 3, A Miles 2, J Short 2, B Griffiths, N Vlastuin, S Lloyd.

Best:
Hawthorn: Breust, Gunston, Hartung, Puopolo, Smith, Gibson.
Richmond: Martin, Miles, Vlastuin, Vickery.

Umpires: Jacob Mollison, Brett Rosebury, Brent Wallace.
Official Crowd: 49,678 at MCG.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Facing a smarting Hawthorn always loomed as a rugged task, but if Richmond was looking for an opportunity to regain equilibrium on Friday night after another tumultuous week, this was it.

The Hawks, already without Luke Hodge, Jarryd Roughead and James Frawley, were further cruelled when Sam Mitchell, averaging 34 disposals per game, was a late withdrawal with what football manager Chris Fagan said was "some soreness with a corked calf". It was the first time Alastair Clarkson had been without Mitchell, Hodge and Roughead for the same game since he began in 2005.

But true to the season the Tigers are having, they were unable to capitalise on this, falling to a 46-point loss in front of a relatively modest attendance of 49,678. Their sixth-straight defeat was another dagger in their finals hopes, and will lead to another week of negative headlines.

For the Hawks, defender of three-straight flags, they reinforced they aren't yet ready to yield. Stung by their 75-point loss to the Giants, their heaviest defeat in seven years, the Hawks responded when the game was truly in the balance – and again find themselves well placed to push for a top-four berth after posting their highest score of the year.

Leading by nine points at three-quarter-time, the Hawks lifted in the contest and on the outside, sparking a nine-goals-to-three final term. Luke Breust completed a fine evening with six goals, while Josh Gibson was a match-winner in defence, largely holding Jack Riewoldt and helping teammates at every opportunity.

Liam Shiels led the last-quarter run before a stunning left-foot set-shot snap by the emerging James Sicily. In a game when the Hawks had the unfamiliar names of Kieran Lovell, Daniel Howe, Sicily and debutant Kaiden Brand running around, it appears their next generation is in good hands.

Jordan Lewis and Shaun Burgoyne also lifted, and Isaac Smith, rebounding from an 11-disposal effort against the Giants, all but iced the win with a running goal from outside 50 metres.

He was jubilant, but it could easily have been a sigh of relief, for the Tigers had their opportunities and, for most of the night, a clear advantages in contested possessions and clearances.

But the Hawks know how to find a way to win, their spirit and belief something statistics cannot define.

"We controlled the ball and our defensive game picked up in the second half," Lewis said.

"We know within the four walls of the club we probably haven't been playing our best football ... it seems like tonight we hit our straps."

Dustin Martin, as he did against Port Adelaide, was in superb touch for the Tigers, who had their own selection issues, missing skipper Trent Cotchin and defender Alex Rance. However, Martin did not have enough support, with Bachar Houli and Ben Griffiths two teammates who had a dirty evening.

This was a contest which was an example of modern momentum football, with goals coming in clutches – and coaches growing increasingly agitated.

Again under pressure after trailing by 15 points at half-time, the Tigers responded, enjoying 64 per cent of the play inside their forward half through the opening 10 minutes .

The Hawks made uncharacteristic mistakes. Taylor Duryea, Grant Birchall and even Gibson were sloppy with their ball use from the defensive 50. Gibson's kick across ground was intercepted by Anthony Miles, who duly converted. After a promising start, Lewis, Smith and Hill disappeared briefly from the action, and the Hawks suffered.

What did the champions have left? Well, plenty.

Lewis coaxed every inch of power from his left leg to convert a set shot from 50 metres and when Puopolo pounced on a loose ball, the Hawks regained the lead. When Ceglar pushed forward, marked and goalled inside the final minute before three-quarter-time, the challenge, once again, was before the Tigers.

Having dropped Ivan Maric, the Tigers gave Shaun Hampson the responsibility in the ruck, and he and Ben McEvoy and Jonathon Ceglar would largely nullify each other in terms of tap work. But it was in the contest where the Tigers had the early advantage – something the Hawks wrestled away as the match unfolded.

In an entertaining first half, the Tigers had three straight, the Hawks responded with six (the first three to a sprightly Breust). The Tigers then rebounded with three to regain the lead before the Hawks steadied to land three blows in the shadows of half-time to enjoy a 15-point break.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-match-report/richmond-v-hawthorn-hawks-take-flight-as-tigers-again-lack-bite-20160506-gonwfz.html