Brockman the feel good story as Hawks win grudge match over Roos

It was billed as coaching grudge match between Sam Mitchell and Alastair Clarkson, but the script was written for Hawk Tyler Brockman in Hawthorn’s win over North Melbourne.

LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 01: Tyler Brockman of the Hawks celebrates a goal during the round three AFL match between Hawthorn Hawks and North Melbourne Kangaroos at University of Tasmania Stadium, on April 01, 2023, in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

IT was billed as a coaching grudge match, a master versus apprentice battle between North Melbourne’s Alastair Clarkson and Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell.

But as the pre-match hype centred around Clarkson’s first match-up against the club he guided to four premierships, a more heart warming tale emerged as Tyler Brockman helped Hawthorn hold off a surging Roos in a 11.14 (80) to 9.7 (61) win at Launceston on Saturday.

Brockman played just a few seconds of football last season after he seriously injured his shoulder in the VFL, but his three-goal display was vital as the Hawks held off a gallant second half comeback from the Roos.

The Hawks led by 25 points at half-time and extended it to 31 with the first goal of the second half.

But the Roos booted five straight goals to get within three points at one stage in the final term.

However they couldn’t find the killer punch, and Brockman capped a dream return to the AFL after 11 games in 2021 when he snapped truly to give Hawthorn breathing space.

Dylan Moore’s second goal of the day soon after ensured the Hawks would secure their first win of the year.

“It (match-up against Kangaroos) was a bit of added motivation. it was good to get reward for effort,” Hawks captain James Sicily told Fox Footy.

“It’s very refreshing to be around Brocky (Brockman) and I think he had five shots at goal today after not playing last year.

“His life has changed, he’s got two little girls now and I dare say he’ll be playing all year if he plays like that.”

Brockman did a cradling motion after kicking one of his goals, a tribute to the two twin daughters he welcomed into the world over the summer.

Mitchell said Brockman provided the x-factor the Hawks were sorely lacking when they kicked just 13 goals across the first two weeks.

“I was rapt for Brocky, he’s such a loveable lad and he’s got one of those infectious smiles,” Mitchell said.

LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 01: Sam Mitchell, Senior Coach of the Hawks and Tyler Brockman of the Hawks put their arms around each other after leaving the field during the 2023 AFL Round 03 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at UTAS Stadium on April 1, 2023 in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“He was telling me this morning his daughters have been playing up, being a bit naughty overnight and keeping him up. He was happy to be in a hotel and get a good sleep, I struggled to get him out of bed this morning.

“We really struggled to score the first two weeks and to bring someone as dynamic and exciting as Brocky in (helps).

“You focus on the three goals but he had a couple of run down tackles that builds the spirit,and the celebration of the players when there was those strong efforts was much better.

“It’s a great script and he’s just starting on his journey.”

With Clarkson frantically pacing the boundary line, much like he did when the Kangaroos secured a thrilling one-point win over Fremantle in Perth last week, the Roos couldn’t quite complete the comeback down the stretch.

Mitchell took the points in his first stoush with Clarkson, with five straight Hawthorn goals in the second quarter proving too much for a surging Kangaroos to overcome.

LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 01: Alastair Clarkson, Senior Coach of the Kangaroos coaches from the bench during the 2023 AFL Round 03 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at UTAS Stadium on April 1, 2023 in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Roos were looking to back up wins over West Coast and Fremantle to start the season. But the late withdrawl of prime move Luke Davies-Uniacke with calf tightness hurt them badly, particularly with co-captain Jy Simpkin already missing through suspension.

For what was forecast to be a spicy affair, the Roos failed to bring the intensity in the first half where they lost the tackle count 28-16 and uncontested possessions 161-105.

Whether the travel and emotion from last week’s one-point win over the Dockers was a factor, or complacency against a Hawks side belted the first two rounds, is unclear.

What was transparent was Mitchell had his charges up for this one against Clarkson’s men.

The Hawks kicked three goals to one in the first quarter and it looked like the Roos would gain the ascendency when Nick Larkey’s 11th goal of the season was followed by another to fellow key forward Charlie Comben to start the second term.

But the Hawks booted five straight goals to build a commanding lead, with only a goal to Cameron Zurhaar on the half-time siren keeping the Roos within 25 points.

The Roos upped the pressure in the third term and were rewarded with a three-goal-to-one quarter to reduce the deficit to 12 points at the final change as star youngster Harry Sheezel dominated after a quiet first half.

But it was the Hawks who took the win in a sweet win for Mitchell, which will also ease some pressure on the second year coach.

Will Day was superb with 28 touches in his best performance yet since moving to the midfield this year, while Moore (25 disposals, two goals) was brilliant.

HAWKS ADJUST STYLE

Hawthorn played cavalier football the first two weeks, attacking the corridor at every opportunity, and they paid for any errors on the rebound by the Bombers and Swans.

Against North Melbourne they played a game plan based on maintaining possession and uncontested marks, and the Kangaroos were unable to lay enough pressure to force them into Plan B. Far too often the Hawks were allowed to waltz out of half-back under little pressure.

HAWTHORN SHOWS RESILIENCE

The Hawks kicked three goals to one in the first quarter. But when the Roos responded with two quick goals to start the second term, it seemed the match may follow a similar path to round one when Hawthorn led Essendon at quarter time, only to be thrashed by 59 points. However they responded with five straight goals to build a big lead.

The Roos responded by strining five goals together of their own in the second half to get within less than a goal in the final term, but the Hawks found another gear to prevail.

ROOS CRASH BACK TO EARTH

All week North Melbourne was trumpeting they weren’t getting ahead of themselves after two unexpected wins to start the year.

However they came crashing back with a thud against the previously struggling Hawks. The travel of playing in Perth before heading to Tasmania could be a factor, but they were simply outenthused, and out thought, by a more determined and efficent Hawks.

No Simpkin or Davies-Uniacke proved an obstacle too difficult to overcome for a rebuilding Roos side who don’t yet have the experience or depth to plug holes when their guns are missing.

North Melbourne are also young, but they still fielded much more AFL experience than the Hawks and were taught a lesson.

STRONG RETURN FOR BROCKMAN

Hawthorn small forward Tyler Brockman’s 2022 season lasted just ten seconds when he suffered a serious shoulder injury in the VFL.

But in his first game back in the AFL, he nailed two second quarter goals during the Hawks’ decisive five-goal streak.

After his second goal from a set shot he rocked his arms in a gesture to his partner after they welcomed twin girls into the world during summer.

His third goal in the final term was crucial in helping Hawthorn hold off a surging North Melbourne.

Will Phillips, the number three pick in the 2020 draft, also returned for the Kangaroos after missing all of last year with glandular fever, racking up 16 disposals.

HAWTHORN 3.4 8.4 9.5 11.14 (80)

NORTH MELBOURNE 1.3 4.3 7.5 9.7 (61)

Goals

Hawthorn: Tyler Brockman 3, Fergus Greene 2, Dylan Moore 2, Jai Newcombe, Connor Macdonald, Jack Scrimshaw, James Worpel

North Melbourne: Cameron Zurhaar 2, Nick Larkey 2, Paul Curtis, Charlie Comben, Curtis Taylor, Kayne Turner, Darcy Tucker

Best: Hawthorn - Will Day, Dylan Moore, Tyler Brockman, , James Sicily, Jai Newcombe; North Melbourne - Daniel Howe, Harry Sheezel, Cameron Zurhaar, Luke Macdonald

Originally published as Brockman the feel good story as Hawks win grudge match over Roos