Hawthorn hang on after seven minute scare against North Melbourne

Hawthorn seemed set for a huge win against North Melbourne but the Kangaroos have come back hard for one of the AFL’s great scares.

Ben McEvoy looks to the heavens after only just holding on.

Hawthorn has survived an absolute thriller against North Melbourne, giving up a 31-point lead with seven minutes remaining to claim a four-point victory.

In a match that didn’t seem like rising to any heights, the Kangaroos went scoreless in the second half until a four -goal burst sent chills down the spines of Hawks fans in the 8.10 (58) to 8.6 (54) win.

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Down by 21 at the start of the final quart, it looked like there was no chance for the Kangaroos back into the match.

Another goal and a pair of behinds had it out to 31 with seven minutes to go until the Tristan Xerri kicked a goal on debut,

It was the first points for the Kangaroos after halftime but it wasn’t over there.

Ben Brown, Cameron Zurhaar and Tarryn Thomas and all of a sudden it was a five point ball game.

Fox Footy commentator Anthony Hudson said “it’s a two-goal game from nowhere” after Zurhaar’s goal.

“Amazing this game’s been turned on its head,” Garry Lyon said in commentary. “You could not have seen this coming and all you can put this down to is a lapse in concentration from the Hawthorn defence.”

The Hawks had done it all in the set up of the win but almost gave it up.

When Thomas scored with three minutes to go, the life was well and truly back in the game.

Suddenly the Kangaroos could do know wrong.

But the comeback ran out of puff with two behinds arresting North’s progress in a frenetic final three minutes with Hawthorn only just holding on when Jy Simpkin kicked a snapped behind.

Hawks star Tom Mitchell said it was lucky break for the side to survive the thriller.

“It was a scare, they came really hard in that final quarter,” he said. “They were really too good for us in that final quarter and luckily we just held on.”

Fans were expecting Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson to go nuts when he got the side in the sheds.

#AFLHawksNorth pic.twitter.com/hTiWLjcs1s

— Nat Edwards (@Nat_Edwards) June 28, 2020

This is an extraordinary comeback. #AFLHawksNorth

— Alex Fair (@AJFair85) June 28, 2020

I can not believe my 8 month old baby is still asleep after that. The hubby and I weren’t exactly quiet during that lady quarter 😬 #AFLHawksNorth pic.twitter.com/LcEKRIpjhh

— Nat Edwards (@Nat_Edwards) June 28, 2020

A lively three goal-performance by Chad Wingard looked set to ease the Hawks to a comfortable win before the the Roos sprang to life.

Wingard’s goal treble was the game high, while James Worpel, Liam Shiels and Tom Mitchell were important on the ball for Hawthorn.

Ben McEvoy was outstanding in defence, effectively blanketing Brown until late. With Ben Cunnington a late withdrawal with a back injury, Shaun Higgins, Jasper Pittard and Simpkin were all important.

Almost one of the all-time comebacks.

The Hawks led by two points at the first break and should’ve been further than 21 points up midway through the second quarter, such was their dominance through the middle.

Wingard recovered from an earlier bad miss to slot two goals, but Higgins was key as the Roos hit back late to trail by nine points at halftime. Hawks tall Mitchell Lewis booted the first goal of the third quarter and Shiels snapped the next with a minute to go.

In between those goals, as had so often happened since footy’s restart, a grim stalemate of slow ball movement was the norm, with both teams struggling to generate meaningful forward forays.

— with AAP