Source : the age
That’s another two goals to Hawthorn and Damien Hardwick is up out of his seat and cursing.
This Hawthorn dominance in the final term is coming off the back of centre square clearances. They just keep winning it out of the middle.
The Hawks have kicked 5.4 tonight from centre clearances. That’s crazy.
Those last two goals came from Connor Macdonald and Dylan Moore. Macdonald has two for this term, and Moore three for the match.
What happened to the Suns much vaunted midfield of Noah Anderson, Matt Rowell and Christian Petracca?
They’ve had their pants pulled down by Jai Newcombe and Will Day.
Hawks 16.9 (105) lead Suns 11.8 (74).
Hawthorn have kicked the opener in the final term.
Connor Macdonald capitalised on a Mac Andrew mistake to collect the ball off the deck and snap a goal.
Andrews read the play and should have taken an easy intercept chest mark. Instead, he spilled it to the turf.
That allowed Macdonald to pounce. Soon after, the Hawks drove it forward for Mabior Chol to mark and goal.
That’s a red hot start for the Hawks in the last quarter.
Hawks 14.9 (93) lead Suns 11.8 (74)
Christian Petracca has roved a marking contest to perfection.
The former Demons star hit the pack at pace, bursting through the congestion and kicking a goal for the Suns.
The Suns trail by seven points as we hit three-quarter-time.
We have a big final quarter coming up as the momentum continues to ebb and flow in this game.
That’s goal number three to Ben Long. He is a dead-eye kick.
He marked on the lead, went back and slotted the kick from 40 metres out, dead in front.
The Suns are sticking with Hawthorn in this third term. Every time the Hawks look like they will break away, the home side hits back.
Hawks 12.8 (80) lead Suns 10.6 (66)
Nick Watson has kicked another cracker.
He ran onto the ball inside the forward 50, turned on a dime and snapped truly from 35 metres out. Brilliant.
He is an absolute superstar. Every time he goes near the ball, some magic unfolds.
It gives Hawthorn a 20-point lead with five minutes left in the third term.
It’s hard to believe, but Ben King has taken until the third term to kick his first goal.
It was needed, bringing the Suns back to within 14 points.
King has had just three possessions for the night.
Oh no, Suns defender Sam Collins has been pinged for holding the ball in front of goal. He took a mark and seemed to think Mabior Chol had not been told to stand as he wandered sideways.
Instead, Chol was allowed to close him down in a tackle. Then Chol kicked a goal.
It’s such a hard rule to interpret. It could have been a 50-metre penalty.
Instead, it was a massive mistake or misunderstanding from Collins. The Hawks seized on the moment and have kicked three straight in this third term, pushing the lead back out to 20 points.
The Suns have opened the scoring in the third quarter with a goal to Ben Long – his second of the game.
It is now a two-point margin between these two sides, and we have a serious game on our hands.
Hawks 8.8 (56) lead Suns 8.6 (54)
Hawthorn have clung on to an eight-point lead at half-time after a Gold Coast fight back.
But in bad news for the Suns, defender Daniel Rioli has been ruled out of the game after copping a hit to the jaw.
Rioli was crunched by Hawthorn’s Josh Weddle in an old-fashioned hip-and-shoulder motion. It initially looked to be a fair bump, considering Rioli was able to get straight up and take his kick, but he is now benched for the game.
If it was the Weddle incident that ruled him out for the night, the Hawthorn defender faces scrutiny from the match review officer and a possible suspension for a high hit.
