Hawthorn youngsters provide positives in win over Brisbane

IT was 16th versus 18th and both coaches were showing what a frustrating match this was, but Hawthorn will prefer to discuss the positives after a third win in four games.

YOU could almost hear the collective gulp from Hawthorn’s Launceston contingent of supporters.

Josh Gibson looked up and was slumped into the ground. Not once, but twice in the first half – holding the ball the repeat result.

At 33, Gibson’s nip of pace is fading. The once reliable shake of the hips is gone.

The triple-premiership defender is a champion and you should never write off a champion, but the signs are worrying.

A tick over 12 months ago Gibson enjoyed 44 touches on the MCG and celebrated his first ever goal in brown and gold.

But symptomatic of coach Alastair Clarkson’s Hawks, an immortal is looking mortal again.

Gibson didn’t redeem himself after halftime. He tried to.

A high mark over Josh Schache in the third quarter and some important efforts in the last helped the Hawks power to a 38-point win against Brisbane Lions.

But the spotlight will shine on those halfback tackles applied by Ryan Lester and Michael Close.

What Clarkson does with Gibson from here will be hotly discussed.

Hawks veteran Josh Gibson struggled in the first half but was better in the second. Picture: Getty Images

But what Clarkson would prefer to discuss are the rainbows peeking through from this season’s dark clouds.

When the credits rolled from Hawthorn’s third win from four matches, its kids were the headline names.

Ryan Burton, 20, moves with class and won a crucial one-on-one against Tom Bell in the last quarter.

Burton (25 disposals) is already a beauty, while Daniel Howe controlled the first quarter as the Hawks built a healthy lead.

Howe had 11 disposals and seven marks at the first break and then pinged through a clever goal in the third quarter at a critical moment.

Running machine Billy Hartung’s clever snap opened Hawthorn’s account, while gun recruit Tom Mitchell added more best-and-fairest votes to a count he is likely winning.

Emerging key forward Tim O’Brien (five marks, two goals) is really starting to look at home at AFL level, flying with authority for marks.

A glance at the coach’s boxes showed what a frustrating match this was.

It was 16th versus 18th and it had Chris Fagan banging his fists on the desk and Alastair Clarkon hurling a water bottle as their teams butchered the ball.

Ryan Burton again showcased his potential. Picture: Getty Images

The Lions kicked the first goal in three quarters, but will rue the clutch of majors they gave up by silly turnovers.

Most notable was a kick-in floated in Cyril Rioli’s direction and a bizarre kick across halfback by Dayne Zorko.

The kick-in allowed three Hawks to raffle a goal as if they were at a Tuesday training run, captain Jarryd Roughead eventually spearing it through.

And the atmosphere wasn’t far from a Warerley training session either, with only 10,553 rolling into the old York park under blue skies.

Only 10,553 watching the new-look Hawks put Brisbane Lions to the sword. Third smallest crowd from 54 Launceston games. Ryan Burton a beauty

— Sam Landsberger (@SamLandsberger) 13 May 2017

Hawthorn’s outside game controlled the first quarter, as they took 32-14 marks and won 16 more uncontested disposals.

The Lions’ most dangerous source of goals came from umpires as whistles gifted Hipwood, re-signed draftee Jarrod Berry and ex-skipper Tom Rockliff majors.

Rafael Nadal lookalike Hipwood took another baby step towards future stardom, his status as one of the game’s most exciting young forwards confirmed.

Predictably, there was another handful of funky deliberate out of bounds decisions and another Lions fadeout by a line-up lacking a 200-gamer.

Hawks president Richard Garvey said pre-game that the match was about creating a new Launceston winning streak, having had their 19-game run snapped.

So far, so good. But you suspect the next 18 will require far more work.

HAWTHORN 4.3 7.7 11.11 17.11 (113)

BRISBANE LIONS 2.2 5.4 7.6 11.9 (75)

GOALS

Hawks: Henderson 3, Roughead 2, Smith 2, O’Brien 2, Gunston, Rioli, Hartung, McEvoy, Howe, Shiels, Breust, Burgoyne

Lions: Hipwood 2, Walker 2, Barrett 2, Berry, Bell, Bewick, Rockliff, Lester

BEST

Hawks: T.Mitchell, Burton, Hartung, Howe, Hodge, Henderson, Shiels

Lions: Rockliff, Martin, Zorko, Hipwood, Rich, Lester

INJURIES

Hawks: Stratton (knee), Rioli (leg)

Lions: Rockliff (shoulder)

Reports: Smith (Hawthorn)

Official crowd: 10,553 at University of Tasmania Stadium

Originally published as Hawthorn youngsters provide positives in win over Brisbane