Lions dig deep to win for injured mates; Young Hawks stun Bulldogs

HAWTHORN 14.14 (98) d WESTERN BULLDOGS 14.7 (91)

Calsher Dear kicks a goal on debut for the Hawks.Credit: AFL Photos

KEY POINTS

SKIPPER IS THE HERO
James Sicily became the unlikely matchwinner when switched forward in the final quarter. It was a brilliant move from Sam Mitchell as the skipper had battled manfully in defence after dislocating his shoulder in the first quarter when he landed awkwardly from a mark.

It has not been a great season for Sicily but this game was a triumph for the Hawks captain. He showed courage to return to the field and then recovered his poise after Nick Watson blew a chance to win the game when he missed his shot for goal from point blank range after receiving a handball from Sicily.

The Hawks deserved the win despite the crazy last quarter with Calsher Dear standing up on debut to kick a goal under pressure in the final quarter. They also recovered from an early onslaught to dominate the game and hold the lead for all but a short period after the quarter time.

James Sicily of the Hawks.Credit: Getty

BONTEMPELLI LACKING SUPPORT
Speaking of captains the result turned on Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli who refused to yield when his team was doing little right.

He was engaged three times in contests just before half time as he willed himself to inspire his team. He then won the ball and drilled Aaron Naughton with a pass in front of goal allowing him to narrow the margin. Then as the game again looked to be drifting the Hawks way, it was Bontempelli who stood tall with a mark and goal to drag the margin below 20 points.

He then brought the Bulldogs back again within range with his kick to Bailey Williams that narrowed the margin to a goal with two minutes left. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan had a chance to level the scores but hit the behind post.

Marcus Bontempelli takes a mark.Credit: Getty

WHAT NOW FOR THE BULLDOGS?
The Bulldogs kicked the first three goals within the first six minutes but somehow lost their handle on the game just as quickly. They did not handle Hawthorn’s spare in defence and their skills when moving the ball were below par.

They only looked threatening from the centre square and it was not enough to match the Hawks. It was summed up when Jason Johannisen committed a coach killer scrubbing a kick-in which gave Tim English no hope. The Hawks pounced and made the Bulldogs pay when Connor Macdonald kicked a goal to halt the Bulldogs momentum.

Luke Beveridge is trying to make changes to take them to the next level but it’s like adjusting a golf swing. They might be going backwards to go forwards.

That’s all we have for you tonight. Thanks so much for joining us across the weekend and we will have more AFL coverage on our websites throughout the week before more AFL live blogs once the games return next round.

Please join us then. Bye for now.

BRISBANE 10.19 (79) d GOLD COAST 6.9 (45)

Lachie Neale gets a handball away.Credit: AFL Photos

KEY POINTS

LIONS LUCK RUNNING OUT
On one hand, the Lions will be taking this as a brave win against the odds. But in the longer view, the mood will be grim in the den this week. Losing key playmaker Keidean Coleman to an ACL injury in round one, then recruit Tom Doedee to a recurrence of the same injury when he was on the verge of making his debut for the club, sucked the wind from them early. By half-time of this game, they had the staggers. We’re yet to hear the result of scans to Lincoln McCarthy and Darcy Gardiner, of course, but when your knees buckle for no apparent reason, the news is rarely good. Gardiner, a veteran, has been used as a forward this year, but now the club’s defensive stocks are looking thin. They’ve lost Noah Answerth to concussion, and Brandon Starcevich will need scans on a calf injury suffered pregame. McCarthy has been the Lions’ best forward so far this season, ahead of a woefully out of form Charlie Cameron. For the first time in a long time, they’ll need to dig deeper into their list. We’re about to find out a bit about them.

Jed Walter.Credit: AFL Photos

SUNS DON’T SHINE
The Suns have failed to turn up, just when it looked like a new day was dawning for the club. These two local rivals are supposed to hate each other. You wouldn’t have guessed it watching the Suns performance tonight, which lacked intensity, workrate and hardness. It needs to be kept in some perspective: five Suns players had played 18 games between them — and coach Damien Hardwick didn’t blink — notably, he left Jed Walter on Harris Andrews all night. Andrews gave him a bath, but Walter’s massive kick from beyond 50 for his first goal late in the game showed why Hardwick is playing the long game with his youngest Suns.

Dayne Zorko.Credit: AFL Photos

GREAT DAYNE
Dayne Zorko has a bitter history in QClash games, especially in his frequent run-ins with Suns captain Touk Miller. On this night, the Lions veteran well and truly had the last laugh, playing a vintage game in an already very good season. He finished with 39 possessions, a career-high, including a remarkable 35 kicks; his workrate saw him rack up 16 marks; and he gained an astonishing 858 metres for his side. Thirty-two possessions were uncontested: again, that’s testament to workrate, although it also doesn’t reflect well on the Suns. Zorko’s game was only blotted by three behinds, in an otherwise ruthlessly efficient performance that won him the Marcus Ashcroft medal. For those playing at home, Champion Data awarded him a whopping 182 fantasy points. He was a star on what was, in many ways, a dark night for both clubs.

KEY STATS

Lions veteran Dayne Zorko has dedicated the win to the four Lions injured tonight.

“Coming into the game we weren’t in the best of form and to lose four players, one of them before the game, meant the boys had to dig deep and it was an unbelievable effort,” Zorko told Fox Footy.

“We really wanted to win it around the contest as we know how good they are and those guys in the midfield had to dig deep all night. It was an unreal effort.

“We wanted to win it for the guys who were injured and they came down and really supported us. Our brotherhood has been sensational all year and that is something we can hang our hats on tonight.”

Dayne Zorko.Credit: AFL Photos

The Lions have scored a pivotal win but now the focus will turn to the aftermath and how serious these injuries will be.

The Suns have a lot of work to do but they are young. Hopefully, it will be a lesson learned.

Josh Dunkley has pulled out a super tackle to get a holding the ball decision and he kicked the goal and that should make sure of this win.

Chris Fagan was shown cheering after the tackle. This is a desperately needed four points, despite the cost of these injuries.

Lions 78, Suns 43 with six mins to go.

Charlie Cameron has kicked a goal from close range and almost fallen down after it.

He is exhausted and playing through a corked thigh suffered earlier in the game.

John Denver’s Country Roads is going around the Gabba but Cameron isn’t singing, he is getting as much air in as he can.

Luckily, the home fans are singing for him.

Lions 72, Suns 43 with seven mins to go.

Charlie Cameron of the Lions and Mac Andrew of the Suns.Credit: AFL Photos

Ben Ainsworth has snapped a goal for the Suns and the lead is now down to 23 points with 10 minutes to go.

There is time enough if the Suns are good enough. Meanwhile, the Lions are trying to dig deep and find whatever energy they have left.

In the Suns’ defence, and for the sake of keeping perspective, they have five players out there with less than half a dozen games experience:

Jed Walter — 5 games

Will Graham — 4 games

Sam Clohesy — 4 games

Ethan Read — 3 games

Jake Rogers — 2 games

So it’s going to take a while for these guys to gel, no matter how talented.

Damien Hardwick clearly made a decision to invest in youth early in this season, so he’s willing to play the long game.

Will Graham.Credit: AFL Photos

It might be too little, too late but Jed Walter has earned a free kick and then booted a goal from 50m out.

The young key forward is a dangerous forward, the Suns would do well to try and find him more in this last term.

Lions 65, Suns 35 wtih 17 mins left.

Jed Walter.Credit: AFL Photos