Hawks, Blues make it five wins on the trot; Hinkley emotional after ‘hard week’

Patrick Cripps inspires again

The Brownlow medallist began the game with 15 disposals in the first quarter before being well held in the second quarter as Richmond gained some ascendancy in the centre clearances.

As his influence waned the Tigers drew within a goal, Cripps decided he had had enough. He took hold of the game with 16 touches and a goal as the Blues kicked seven goals in 20 minutes to put the result beyond doubt. The blitzkrieg was a good sign as premiership teams have the capacity to score quickly.

Patrick Cripps and Charlie Curnow of the Blues.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

The champion was best on ground as he has returned to vintage form with his game even better now as he trusts his teammates more and is prepared to share the ball. He is a champion player in complete control of his game with his withering runs out of the centre square like watching a kayaker find his way through a rapid. He finished the match with 39 disposals and 13 centre clearances.

His sidekick Sam Walsh was as good as usual while Adam Cerra made a strong return from a hamstring injury before being subbed off early in the final quarter.

Pressure for spots inside 50 at the Blues

Carlton’s options at the fall of the ball inside their forward 50 are often queries but they have workhorses such as Matt Owies and Lachie Fogarty as well as an inconsistent speedster Orazio Fantasia.

They have Jesse Motlop on the verge of returning and are using Zac Williams inside 50. The injured Jack Martin is also a class player who would be hard to leave out if he is fit.

Fantasia kicked four goals and Fogarty three majors, while Owies and Williams kicked one each. Alex Cincotta also kicked two goals as the defensive forward. Of course the Blues value more than goals when assessing the mix but they are in the good position of having pressure for spots in that part of the ground.

If a player doesn’t do the work required they will find themselves on the sidelines.

Martin subbed off as first gamer shining [B]light for Richmond

Late in the third quarter Dustin Martin was subbed off after he received treatment on his back midway through the quarter. He returned but was hampered before calling it a day.

Tigers v BluesCredit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Adem Yze flagged Martin might be rested ahead of the match against the Dockers and that looks all but certain as he finished the match with just seven touches.

Meanwhile, given the wet conditions, the day was never going to be conducive to tall forwards but that would not have eased the concerns of Richmond first-gamer Jacob Blight who was matched up on Carlton’s Harry McKay while Ben Miller had the job on Charlie Curnow. But the Tigers pair played very well on their more high profile opponents.

Blight was brave in the air and desperate when caught out of position. He was unlucky to concede McKay’s first goal when the big Blue marked the ball in front of goal that had been touched off the boot while McKay took a good mark on the lead in the last quarter.

Miller also held Curnow to just two goals (one of them late in the game) and seven touches, which was a strong effort given the amount of times the ball went inside 50.

Well, that’s all from us today.

Thanks for joining us and we’ll see you next weekend for round 17.

Goodnight!

Well, that was never close. What was a horror day for the Eagles.

Hawthorn defeat West Coast by a whopping 61-point at Optus Stadium to close out the weekend of footy.

From the Hawks opening three goals of the game, they were away. The Eagles managed just the four goals all afternoon, while the Hawks landed 14 majors in what’s now their fifth victory in a row.

Hawthorn sit 13th on the ladder, but with how close the competition is this year, they’re just one win outside the top eight.

Hawthorn defeat West Coast 14.10 (94) to 4.9 (33).

Hawthorn beat West Coast at home.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Any West Coast fans still watching? It’s hard to pull many positives out of this.

Hawthorn are on top in every which way in this game, as they lead by 61 points late in the fourth quarter. The Hawks are just walking their way inside 50 at the moment, they’ve had 58 entries to 33.

The spread of goals has been positive, too, for the Hawks with Dylan Moore, Connor Macdonald, Jack Ginnivan and Mabior Chol all with three.

Hawks by 61

James Worpel of the HawksCredit: Getty Images

Adem Yze says Dustin Martin’s back just flared up and is not a lingering issue.

Martin was subbed off during the Tigers’ loss to the Blues.

Yze said they will wait to see how he pulls up before deciding whether he plays against Fremantle. However, he would be 100-1 to play given it’s a six day break and he would need to travel to Perth.

Yze also flagged that Martin would be managed on radio earlier in the week.

Dustin Martin was subbed off in the Tigers’ clash with the Blues.Credit: Getty Images

Hawthorn skipper James Sicily left the field with a right shoulder injury in the third quarter.

Sicily was at the base of a marking pack and extended his arm before it was awkwardly dragged down, an action that appeared to dislocate his shoulder. He immediately recoiled in pain and left the field holding his shoulder.

James Sicily shoulder pops out.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

The skipper was taken down to the rooms and he emerged looking relieved but it was not initially clear if he had suffered any further damage or would return for the last quarter.

The Hawks used their sub earlier in the quarter to take Calsher Dear from the ground.

Hawthorn leads by 39 points heading into the final term. Let’s see what happens now in the fourth...

Things are not looking good for West Coast, who have managed just three goals by three-quarter time.

The result is looking to go the way many had predicted, but even those who tipped Hawthorn would have hoped for a closer contest.

Hawthorn have kicked nine goals, two of those off the boot of Dylan Moore (20 touches), while Jai Newcombe (25 disposals) and James Worpel (21 disposals) have been running rampant in the midfield.

Worryingly Hawks skipper James Sicily fell awkwardly on his shoulder following a marking contest and went down to the rooms to be assessed.

Hawks by 39 at 3QT

Jai Newcombe of the HawksCredit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Gold Coast’s Ben Long has been smacked (pardon the pun) with a $3750 fine (with an early plea) for his hit on Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard.

It was an incident that elicited a decent reaction from fans, with Maynard, after being hit in the pec region by Long, falling to the ground and grabbing at his head.

Some compared the action to Steven May staging, which the Demon was fined for, the weekend prior.

See the vision here, thanks to a footy fan on X:

Adelaide’s Sam Berry was fined $1875 ($1250 with an early plea) for careless contact with an umpire during the Crows’ win over Greater Western Sydney.

Essendon captain Zach Merrett also coped a fine, $1875 ($1250 with an early plea) for striking Tom Atkins’ during Saturday night’s loss to Geelong.

Patrick Cripps inspires again

The Brownlow medallist began the game with 15 disposals in the first quarter before being well held in the second quarter as Richmond gained some ascendancy in the centre clearances.

As his influence waned the Tigers drew within a goal, Cripps decided he had had enough. He took hold of the game with 16 touches and a goal as the Blues kicked seven goals in 20 minutes to put the result beyond doubt. The blitzkrieg was a good sign as premiership teams have the capacity to score quickly.

Patrick Cripps and Charlie Curnow of the Blues.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

The champion was best on ground as he has returned to vintage form with his game even better now as he trusts his teammates more and is prepared to share the ball. He is a champion player in complete control of his game with his withering runs out of the centre square like watching a kayaker find his way through a rapid. He finished the match with 39 disposals and 13 centre clearances.

His sidekick Sam Walsh was as good as usual while Adam Cerra made a strong return from a hamstring injury before being subbed off early in the final quarter.

Pressure for spots inside 50 at the Blues

Carlton’s options at the fall of the ball inside their forward 50 are often queries but they have workhorses such as Matt Owies and Lachie Fogarty as well as an inconsistent speedster Orazio Fantasia.

They have Jesse Motlop on the verge of returning and are using Zac Williams inside 50. The injured Jack Martin is also a class player who would be hard to leave out if he is fit.

Fantasia kicked four goals and Fogarty three majors, while Owies and Williams kicked one each. Alex Cincotta also kicked two goals as the defensive forward. Of course the Blues value more than goals when assessing the mix but they are in the good position of having pressure for spots in that part of the ground.

If a player doesn’t do the work required they will find themselves on the sidelines.

Martin subbed off as first gamer shining [B]light for Richmond

Late in the third quarter Dustin Martin was subbed off after he received treatment on his back midway through the quarter. He returned but was hampered before calling it a day.

Tigers v BluesCredit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Adem Yze flagged Martin might be rested ahead of the match against the Dockers and that looks all but certain as he finished the match with just seven touches.

Meanwhile, given the wet conditions, the day was never going to be conducive to tall forwards but that would not have eased the concerns of Richmond first-gamer Jacob Blight who was matched up on Carlton’s Harry McKay while Ben Miller had the job on Charlie Curnow. But the Tigers pair played very well on their more high profile opponents.

Blight was brave in the air and desperate when caught out of position. He was unlucky to concede McKay’s first goal when the big Blue marked the ball in front of goal that had been touched off the boot while McKay took a good mark on the lead in the last quarter.

Miller also held Curnow to just two goals (one of them late in the game) and seven touches, which was a strong effort given the amount of times the ball went inside 50.

And they’ve done it again. Carlton make it five wins a row with a 61-point victory over Richmond at the MCG to consolidate their second spot on the ladder.

And with a handy percentage boost there, too.

The Tigers mounted a decent first half challenge but the Blues just kicked away in the second. Orazio Fantasia had four, while Lachie Fogarty had three and skipper Patrick Cripps was enormous with 40 touches, a goal and 14 clearances.

Noah Balta was a bright spot for Richmond with three goals, while Toby Nankervis was pivotal for his side.

Carlton defeat Richmond 20.11 (131) to 10.10 (70)

Blues beat Tigers at the MCGCredit: Getty Images

Hawk Sam Frost was beaten in a one-on-one with Jake Waterman, with the Eagle capitalising with a goal.

And boy, Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell was not impressed. He slammed his fist into the KFC billboard behind him in the coaches’ box, and then picked up the phone. Thoughts and prayers to however was on the receiving end of the line.

Vision here, thanks to Fox Footy:

Hawthorn lead by 17 points at half-time after kicking five goals to nine in the opening half. Notably, Nick Watson converted a set shot, with the last major of the third quarter.

Hawks by 17