In a tweet...

The Rundown

The Bombers made a solid start, kicking two of the game's opening three goals, both through Joe Daniher, but that only seemed to spark the Hawks into gear.

The Hawks kicked the next eight goals of the game to give themselves a 58-point cushion at the main break.

With captain Brendan Goddard breaking his nose early in the game, the Hawks ensured that the Bombers night would go from bad to worse as the second half saw ten Hawthorn goals to only two Essendon majors. Forwards Luke Breust, Jack Gunston and Paul Puopolo were sure to make the most of a vulnerable Essendon defence.

The Star

Jordan Lewis was outstanding in the midfield, picking up a game-high 36 possessions. Lewis was typically clinical in the stoppages with five clearances, an effort that earned him three Brownlow votes. Grant Birchall was also influential, amassing 30 touches of his own and polling two points on Brownlow night.

The Moment

Second gamer Kade Stewart showed he was right at home within the Hawthorn game style as he delivered a piercing left foot kick inside forward 50 to find a leading Cyril Rioli. Stewart ran on toward the forward pocket as Rioli repaid the favour, finding Stewart again as the youngster snapped a beauty from the pocket on his non-preferred right boot.

Read: Kade Stewart's making waves

The Coach

"Of all the sides in the eight, our percentage was the worst. To have a convincing victory like that (builds) belief in our players." -Alastair Clarkson

 

ESSENDON        2.1    4.3       5.5       6.7   (43)

HAWTHORN     6.7   13.7    17.9    23.13   (151)                      

GOALS


Essendon: Daniher 2, Brown, J. Merrett, Langford, Bird
Hawthorn: Breust 4, Puopolo 4, Gunston 4, Rioli 3, O'Brien 2, Stewart 2, Smith, Burgoyne, Shiels, Langford 

BEST 


Essendon: Zaharakis, Merrett, Parish, Daniher, Fantasia
Hawthorn: Lewis, Birchall, Rioli, Gibson, Puopolo, Shiels, Howe 

INJURIES 


Essendon: Goddard (broken nose)
Hawthorn: Nil 

Reports: Nil 
Umpires: Kamolins, Fleer, Mollison 

Official crowd: 27,567 at Etihad Stadium

Read: In the mix - Round 1