Hawthorn defeats Essendon by 26 points, Jordan Ridley and Kyle Langford injured

Will Day was unable to replicate his Opening Round SuperCoach heroics, while Zach Merrett was upstaged in the Essendon midfield. See the full fallout and Dan Batten’s SuperCoach notes.

Hawthorn’s impenetrable back line ensured it continued its winning start to 2025 in a clinical display against Essendon on Friday night.

Tom Barrass, Josh Battle and James Sicily formed a sound wall inside the Bombers’ forward 50 in the 17.9 (111) to 12.13 (85) win.

For much of the game, the Bombers led time in forward half and eventually won the inside 50 count.

But it was the 20 intercept possessions between the star trio which allowed the Hawks to repel Essendon’s pushes forward.

Recap the key moments from Hawthorn’s win in our blow below

At the other end Nick Watson, Jack Ginnivan, Dylan Moore and Blake Hardwick were at their electric and lethal best as they combined for 10 goals.

Watson and Ginnivan kicked five in the first half before Moore and Hardwick hit the scoreboard in the second half.

The Bombers will be without two of its key players next week in Adelaide after Kyle Langford hurt his hamstring and Jordan Ridley was subbed out with concussion.

Kyle Langford has been ruled out for the rest of the game through injury.#AFLHawksDonspic.twitter.com/AJxbt6tmR6

— AFL (@AFL) March 14, 2025

Jordan Ridley has been ruled out of the game following this incident involving Jack Scrimshaw.#AFLHawksDonspic.twitter.com/TPh8W9b3Ex

— AFL (@AFL) March 14, 2025

FRIENDLY FIRE

Hawthorn’s Jack Scrimshaw had his night ended prematurely and will miss next week’s match against Carlton after a sickening head clash with teammate Josh Battle.

Scrimshaw was able to walk off the field but was bleeding profusely after he and Battle collided during the second quarter.

the ump decides McGrath wasn't under pressure and penalizes him for rushing it #AFLHawksDonspic.twitter.com/zJvcVWcWRf

— outbreezy (@outbreezyWC) March 14, 2025

CALL IT EVEN

Nick Watson will likely call his third goal a leveler for one he should have had earlier.

Watson was caught extremely high as he ran into goal during the second quarter but it was overlooked by the umpire.

He later reaped the reward of another questionable decision as Essendon’s Andy McGrath was deemed to have deliberately rushed the ball over the goal line.

Welcome to the AFL, ISAAC KAKO 🙌#AFLHawksDonspic.twitter.com/GMotF5CzCz

— AFL (@AFL) March 14, 2025

KAKO’S CRACKER

Essendon fans are in for an entertaining ride if Isaac Kako’s introduction into the AFL is a glimpse of the future.

After a rather sloppy start by both teams, Kako inserted himself into the match with a classy finish with his very first kick.

Aware Hawthorn defender Tom Barrass would wrap him up if he took possession of the ball, Kako volleyed it off the ground towards goal.

The clever finish put the Hawks on notice as he was swarmed whenever he went near the football for the remainder of the night.

Dylan Moore wheels off in celebration after one his three goals.

ALL EYES ON THE SHOWTIME HAWKS

Hawthorn supporters were out in force on Friday night to top the club’s home and away attendance record for matches against Essendon.

80,735 piled into the MCG to surpass the previous record of 78,294 from Round 1 2017.

The figure is seventh in all of Hawthorn’s home and away attendance records since 1997.

The attendance also pipped the 80,009 who watched Richmond upset Carlton on Thursday night.

Sitting firmly at No.1 on Hawthorn’s list is Dustin Martin’s 300th game last year when 92,311 people watched the Hawks spoil the champion’s milestone.