Source :- THE AGE NEWS
This has been a cracking start as Ed Allan booted a running goal and then the Hawks moved the ball forward and found Lloyd Meek who marked and goaled.
There have been some brilliant passages of play at a very high tempo in these opening 10 minutes.
Hawks 14, Pies 12 with 12 mins to go in Q1.
That was a heady finish from young Pies forward Charlie West who has taken a handball 55m out and shot truly from 45m – his shot was dead centre and never missing.
The Pies needed that goal.
Hawks 7, Pies 6 with 14 mins to go in Q1.
The Hawks are on top early at the MCG and Jai Newcombe has snapped the opening goal.
Jack Gunston has also been prominent early in the Hawks’ forward line, the Pies can’t let this keep happening if they want to stay in this match.
Hawks 7, Pies 0 with 16 mins to go in Q1.
Magpies coach Craig McRae has playfully claimed that Steele Sidebottom became sick after “shaking 200 people’s hands” after his retirement announcement earlier in the week.
Harvey Harrison will come back into the side in place of the ill Sidebottom.
“Harvey was a bit stiff to go out – he’s been playing some good footy for us,” McRae told Kayo Sports.
“[With Steele], when you shake 200 people’s hands, you are bound to get something.
“The lesson for those at home is to wash your hands.”
Hawks coach Sam Mitchell has hinted that debutant Max Beattie could bring some cheek to his side tonight.
Beattie joined the Hawks after the mid-season draft after growing up in Wodonga and impressing in the SANFL.
Mitchell told Kayo Sports that Beattie had brought some spark to the club since his arrival and he received his jumper pre-game from former Hawk Paul Salmon.
Hawks media sent out this information on Beattie:
The Brisbane Lions are set for a top-four finish after beating Gold Coast Suns by 42 points at the Gabba this evening.
Lions midfielder Will Ashcroft won another Marcus Ashcroft Medal (named after his father) after amassing 31 disposals, and forward Logan Morris finished with a game-high four goals.
Matt Rowell led the Suns with 28 disposals and eight clearances.
“I thought it was a tough old game with a lot of pressure and I liked our pressure,” Lions coach Chris Fagan told Kayo Sports.
Geelong’s hopes of a top-six finish are still alive after they prevailed in a high-scoring shootout against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
In a game where there were huge momentum shifts – the Kangaroos led by 38 points at the first change, only to trail by seven at half-time – the Cats held on to win by 15 points, 19.11 (125) to 17.8 (110).
With one game remaining in the home-and-away campaign, the Cats can finish in the top six and avoid the wildcard round. They will host Richmond at GMHBA Stadium next Saturday.
Skipper Patrick Dangerfield, with two goals and nine disposals in his first game back from injury, said the Cats remained calm after a rugged start.
