AFL Round 13: Hawthorn v GWS Giants: Hawks stamp finals credentials after winning controversial thriller
It’s time to seriously start dreaming of September, Hawthorn fans. Luke Breust was the hero against the Giants – but a late umpiring call raised some eyebrows.
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A controversial late umpiring call that will divide fans ensured Hawthorn pulled off a pulsating one-goal win over the Giants that has officially confirmed them as a finals hope.
With scores deadlocked in one of the best matches of the season, Giants star Tom Green was penalised after hitting Hawks captain James Sicily late after he kicked the ball inside 50.
The downfield free kick was awarded to Luke Breust, who made no mistake with about a minute left to seal the 12.13 (85) to 12.7 (79) win.
Coach Sam Mitchell praised the club’s resilience after overcoming a lack of troops – on and off and the field – but he wouldn’t be drawn into whether he thought the free kick was the right decision.
“I’m not sure, I haven’t watched it again since,” Mitchell said post-match.
“I’ll let the umpires (call it), they’ve got a tough job and particularly at the moment with the new interpretations.”
After starting the year with five losses, Hawthorn has now won six of its past eight and is just four points plus percentage outside the top eight.
It appeared the two sides might again share the points at Launceston, as they did back in 2017, before the late drama kept the Hawks’ finals hopes alive, before a winnable clash with Richmond next week.
For the Giants, coming off a bye after a steadying win at Geelong, the loss was a huge blow to their top-four hopes.
They led by 19 points at half-time, but a six-goals-to-two third term by Hawthorn gave it the lead at the final change.
The fourth quarter was a seesawing thriller with both sides booting four goals apiece, and Hawthorn will leave Tasmania of the belief they deserved the four points.
POOR EFFICIENCY EARLY NEARLY COSTS HAWKS
Hawthorn was on top for large doses of the first half, when the pressure levels were high between two of the league’s best contest teams.
However, the Hawks couldn’t capitalise on a number of chances and finished with 2.7 for the first half.
In contrast, the Giants racked up 6.2, and their class forward of the ball came to the fore with their better finishing.
Once some fatigue came into the game, the visitors’ runners started to make an impact, and their forward line capitalised.
CHOL MAKES BIG IMPACT
His stats don’t necessarily leap off the page, but Mabior Chol produced arguably his most impactful game in the AFL thus far.
The forward’s spectacular flying mark and goal was Hawthorn’s first major of the day, and he delivered another in the third term as the Hawks booted six goals to two to take the lead.
The 26-year-old presented well all match and was crucial in how his side structured up around the ground.
After previous stints at Richmond and Gold Coast, Chol may have finally found his home at the Hawks.
He set up a goal early in the fourth quarter with some nice ground ball work opposing gun Giants defender Sam Taylor which belied his size.
“Mabior’s been as consistent as he’s ever been in his career. He did some vital things for us,” Mitchell said.
“We knew we were going to be up against it with the aerial battle against GWS.
“I thought Jack Gunston’s role on Sam Taylor (was strong) and Mabior and Calsher (Dear) were able to control the air in the front half, or not get beaten in that area.
“Mabior’s leadership around aerial play and his presence on the rest of the group was vital today, especially after Ned went down.”
HAWKS OVERCOME RUCK ISSUES
Hawthorn ruck Ned Reeves was subbed off in the third quarter with a back injury, leaving the Hawks desperately short of tall timber for the rest of the match.
With Lloyd Meeks (ankle) also unavailable this week, it forced coach Sam Mitchell to use Conor Nash as a pinch-hitter in the ruck, while young defender Josh Weddle also contributed at the centre bounce.
The hosts were able to overcome the sizeable disadvantage to secure their sixth win of the year.
O’HALLORAN STARS
He spent more time in the midfield that normal for the Giants, but it didn’t stop Xavier O’Halloran having a massive impact in front of goal.
After the Hawks kicked the first goal of the last quarter to lead by nine points, O’Halloran produced two classy finishes to put his team back in front.
He also recorded three clearances and five tackles in an impactful display.
FOG GROUNDS TEAMS’ PLANS
Both teams’ days didn’t get off to smooth starts when heavy fog across the Bass Strait forced a plane taken by some of the club’s support staff to turn around back to Melbourne.
It meant the Hawks had no banner to run through for the start of the game, and were without their regular doctor and runner for a period of time before they were able to get to the ground.
The upheaval on and off the field ensured players and staff alike had to adapt to different roles, and Mitchell couldn’t be prouder.
“(Assistant coach) Brett Ratten went from coach’s box to the bench and filled in. I think we had five or six guys with match day roles who weren’t there,” Mitchell said.
“It was a great challenge for us and we took it in our stride.
“If you look at the game today the really pleasing thing was players and even staff (took on different roles), we had staff not get to the game and had other people in roles on the bench.
“Weddle went into the ruck for a bit and the belief they had in each other to play each other’s roles, on and off the field (was pleasing).
“I thought that was a big step forward and will give us confidence.”
Giants ruck coach Shane Mumford also got stuck on the tarmac, with coach Adam Kingsley revealing on Fox Footy pre-game he was driving from Hobart to Launceston when the game began.
Scoreboard
HAWTHORN 1.3 2.7 8.9 12.13 (85)
GWS 2.1 6.2 8.6 12.7 (79)
JON TUXWORTH’S BEST
Hawks: Day, Chol, Weddle, Sicily, Moore, Worpel
Giants: O’Halloran, Briggs, Whitfield, Green, Daniels, Peatling
GOALS
Hawks: Jack Gunston 3, Mabior Chol 2, Connor Macdonald 2, Luke Breust 2, Josh Weddle, Changkuoth Jiath, Calsher Dear,
Giants: Xavier O’Halloran 4, Aaron Cadman 2, Jesse Hogan, James Peatling, Brent Daniels, Toby Greene, Ryan Angwin, Jake Riccardi
INJURIES
Hawks: Ned Reeves (back)
UMPIRES: Rosebury, O’Gorman, Whetton, Toner
CROWD: 11,568
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JON TUXWORTH’S VOTES
3: Will Day
2: Xavier O’Halloran
1: Mabior Chol
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