Hawthorn v Richmond: Dustin Martin best on ground in Tigers’ 29-point win

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has defended his surprise match-up on Dustin Martin after another powerful performance from the Tigers star.

Trent Cotchin was back in action for Richmond against the Hawks. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Richmond generally comes out on top when Dustin Martin is given the time and space to win the footy and hit the scoreboard, and its 29-point win over Hawthorn was no exception.

Martin roamed the great expanses of the MCG with ease, as he did in the season-opener, and was a damaging attacking force yet again.

It was an unselfish outing for Martin, having a handful of score assists, but the role he played for his side was just as pronounced.

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The inexperienced Hawks showed plenty of fight until fading out of the contest, matching the reigning premiers after conceding the first three goals of the match when the result threatened to get ugly.

Richmond’s pressure was relentless throughout and its back-six was impenetrable, providing an attacking springboard after regularly picking off the Hawks’ errant entries.

Ball-magnet Tom Mitchell put in another tireless display, finishing a game-high 37 disposals.

The triumph was an 51-point reversal on the corresponding fixture in Round 3 last year, with the Hawks lining up with 10 different faces in this encounter.

Dustin Martin and Jack Riewoldt were a deadly combo yet again for the Tigers against Hawthorn. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

NO DUSTY TAG

Coming off a best-on-ground display in Round 1, Hawthorn opted against a lockdown role on the dangerous Dustin Martin and the decision proved costly.

Veteran Shaun Burgoyne followed Martin — a move Tigers coach Damien Hardwick admitted “we didn’t see coming” — but he tallied a team-high 18 disposals in the first half, with his open long bomb goal from 50m in the shadows of halftime typifying the space he was gifted by the Hawks.

He could have easily had another after being left alone following a free kick inside 50, instead deciding to pass it off to ruckman Toby Nankervis.

The three-time Norm Smith medallist’s impact forward of centre sparked the Tigers, laying a hand in eight score involvements and driving the ball inside 50 on four occasions in the first half alone.

Tom Mitchell had 20 first half possessions but wasn’t nearly as damaging.

Martin set up another two goals in the final term, putting the icing on the cake of an exceptional performance.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson felt Burgoyne had subdued Martin despite a strong 28-possession, one-goal contest from Martin who also handed away two close-range majors to Jack Riewoldt.

First AFL goal vibes 🙌

Hopefully many more to come Kosi!#AFLHawksTigerspic.twitter.com/RCICrXDAUw

— AFL (@AFL) March 28, 2021

GREEN SHOOTS

Hawthorn’s youngster gave fans fans an exciting glimpse of what is to come.

Changkouth Jiath played his best game at the level, tallying 11 intercept possessions and 25 disposals, while Round 1 debutant Tyler Brockman added two goals and gave the Hawks spark in the forward 50.

Young tall Jacob Koschitzke had a couple of nervous moments early but nailed his first AFL goal as the Hawks’ main inside 50 target.

“He (Jiath) was the girl with the curl today,” Clarkson said. “He had some outstanding passages of play and some that were frustrating from his point of view when he gave the ball back to them.

“He is just getting exposed to the level and there are a lot of instances where he had a whole lot more time and space than what he thinks. But he’s tracking in the right direction for our footy club and our supporters would be liking what they are seeing. He is slowly getting there. He was exposed a couple of times today but he also did some outstanding things as well.”

Clarkson said the Hawks’ young side had learned an invaluable lesson taking on footy’s best side.

“We are playing a lot of newer guys and win, lose or draw today it was going to be a great win for our footy club. Just getting experience against the premiership side of the last few years is gold for our guys to see where they are at as a club.”

Changkuoth Jiath was a standout for the Hawks against Richmond. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

However, promising defender Will Day was subbed out of the clash with an ankle injury before three-quarter time in a cruel blow for the developing Hawks.

Day went down into the rooms after a crunching tackle from Tiger Josh Caddy and returned with the injury iced.

Clarkson said the club is unclear of the extent of the injury.

“It’s an ankle, we don’t know whether that’s going to be zero weeks, one week or six weeks, so we’ll get the scan and see how it goes,” Clarkson said post-match.

“I haven’t checked with the docs as of yet, but the doctors assessed it as serious enough for him to have to come out of the game.”

RETURN TO 2020 IN PREMIERSHIP QUARTER

The third quarter was the antithesis of the free-flowing footy that fans have been treated to in 2021 so far.

After a 13 goal first half, the two sides labored in the premiership quarter, combining for just two majors as the game morphed into a gritty stalemate.

Players from both sides looked out of gas and the transition play of the first half was virtually non-existent.

BALTA’S BRIGHT START

Noah Balta is improving at a rate of knots and the athletic tall had a major say at both ends inside the first 10 minutes of the match.

The 194cm defender leapt into the air with confidence to take a contested mark on the last line of defence and minutes later, he pulled in another strong intercept mark up on the wing.

He was then walked inside 50 by Hawk Tim O’Brien, who moved off his mark after the umpire called ‘stand’, with Balta nailing the resulting set shot from 30m to give the Tigers their second goal.

SCOREBOARD

HAWTHORN 1.1 5.2 6.3 7.7 (49)

RICHMOND 4.4 8.7 9.8 11.12 (78)

BATTEN’S BEST

HAWKS: Mitchell, Jiath, Hardwick, Brockman, Impey

TIGERS: Martin, Balta, Riewoldt, Bolton, Prestia, Short

GOALS

HAWKS: Breust 2, Brockman 2, Koschitzke, Morrison, O’Brien,

TIGERS: Riewoldt 4, Lynch 2, Castagna 2, Martin, Aarts, Balta

INJURIES

HAWKS: W. Day (ankle)

TIGERS: Nil.

VENUE

MCG

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

DAN BATTEN’S VOTES

3. D. Martin

2. T. Mitchell

1. N. Balta

HAWKS SWEAT ON SCANS FOR YOUNG STAR

– Jon Ralph

Hawthorn’s No. 6 overall draft pick Denver Grainger-Barras will need scans after hyperextending his knee in a Punt Road practice match against Richmond on Sunday.

The intercept marker was close to an AFL debut after a strong summer when he went down during the contest today.

The Hawks are optimistic he has dodged serious ligament today but he was not fit enough to be able to return to action.

“I think he just landed awkwardly,” Clarkson said.

“They think structurally it’s sound but I think he just landed awkwardly and extended it so we’ll once again get that scanned and see how it is.”

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Denver Grainger-Barras is one of the Hawks’ top young talents. Picture: Paul Kane/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Q3 | 58-53

A stop in play as DGB is assessed for an injury sustained in the last contest. He's up and on his feet, making his way to the bench 🤞.

— Box Hill Hawks (@BoxHillHawks) March 28, 2021

He will need scans on Sunday to diagnose the extent of the injury.

Hawthorn is desperate to fast track a bunch of kids including WAFL defender Grainger-Barras, who was the best young defender taken in the 2020 national draft.

Grainger-Barras was in good spirits on the neck after the injury and able to walk around under his steam so the Hawks will hope he has nothing more serious than minor bone bruising.

Mitch Lewis kicked four goals in the contest after being delayed in his AFL return by a sore back.

Originally published as Hawthorn v Richmond: Dustin Martin best on ground in Tigers’ 29-point win