AFL Round 3 Hawthorn v GWS: All the news, analysis and fallout as Hawks enhance premiership credentials

GWS got the jump on Hawthorn down in Tassie, before Will Day led a Hawks blitz that the Giants never recovered from. But that wasn’t even the most impressive part of the win.

Jonathon Tuxworth

3 min read

12:40PMMarch 30, 2025

News Sport Network

They’re dubbed the ‘Hollywood Hawks’, but Hawthorn’s ability to get in the trenches when it matters was also on display after they justified their flag favouritism with a 10.16 (74) to 9.10 (64)) win over GWS on Saturday.

In front of a big crowd for Launceston’s first night game since 2018, the Hawks handled the blustery conditions better to improve to 4-0 as the Giants suffered their first defeat of the year.

An eight minute, six-goal blitz to end the first half was scintillating, but the Hawks contest work and pressure in the third quarter, where they booted four goals to two against the breeze, was even more impressive.

The Giants were on top for most of the first half, with their pressure enormous as they kicked five unanswered first quarter goals with the wind.

But after struggling to find an avenue to goal with the win for much of the second term,

GWS locked down the Hawks well for much of the second term.

Nick Watson and the Hawks were too good on Saturday night. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

But after Josh Weddle was awarded a mark which appeared to hit the ground before he had complete control, the Hawks strung together goals to grab the ascendancy.

Hawthorn made the necessary adjustments in the third term, and handled the challenge of kicking into the wind far better. They were able to rush the Giants into errors through their midfield pressure, and stop the run and carry game their rivals enjoyed in the first quarter.

It took nine minutes into the third quarter for the first goal to be kicked into the breeze, when Hawk Jack Gunston marked in the goal square and made no mistake, and the Hawks managed three more to take control.

The Giants managed just four goals after quarter time to slip to 2-1 for the season.

Small forward Nick Watson was influential for the Hawks.

“We knew it was going to be like that, the boys fought hard and it was a tough start,” Watson told Fox Footy.

“(The third quarter) was an adjustment, we knew us forwards needed to start moving and we were a bit slack in the first quarter.”

A YEAR’S A LONG TIME IN FOOTY

Much of the storyline around Hawthorn before the season began was whether they could handle the target on their backs after their incredible resurgence in the back half of 2024.

They’ve passed every test so far with flying colours, and now have a 4-0 launch pad after they lost their first five games last year.

They now enjoy a fortnight’s break before they take on Port Adelaide in a Gather Round blockbuster at Adelaide Oval.

Will Day copped attention – but still showed his class. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

DAY SHOWS HIS CLASS

Much has been said and written about how important Will Day is to Hawthorn, and his ability to seize big moments was on display again.

Late in the first half, he evaded a couple of tacklers and unleashed from 65 metres out near the boundary line. The wind did the rest of the work as it trickled through for a goal.

He was unlucky not to kick a second soon after when his evasion was again on display, but his snapped goal was overruled after it was touched in flight.

He had nine score involvements in the first half alone.

Classy midfielder Jai Newcombe had just six touches in a quiet first half, but was enormous in the third term where the Hawks effectively won the game and finished with 21 disposals.

Hawks ruck Lloyd Meek was enormous for the victors, while swingman Josh Weddle was also outstanding, particularly as the extra man in defence

Will Day goal 4.3

STRINGER SHOWS GLIMPSES

It was far from an impactful display on a night not suited for key forwards, but high profile Giants recruit Jake Stringer showed signs he will add to an already potent forward set up once he finds his feet.

He missed a couple of chances early and went goalless with three behinds, but finished with 14 touches and worked hard.

Coleman medallist Jesse Hogan kicked four goals, but two of those came early and he was kept relatively quite for the rest of the game.

The GWS banner. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

GIANTS BANNER TROLLS HAWKS

They’re renowned for their ruthless, take no prisoners banter on social media, and the Giants wasted little time poking fun at the Hawks.

They struggled to keep it upright in the blustery conditions, but the GWS banner read “Two teams on different levels, forget the Hawks where are the Devils?”

Hawthorn recently extended its deal to play four regular season games at Launceston every year until 2027, the year before the Tasmanian team is scheduled to enter the league.