Horror start for the Hawks


Hawthorn is on the bottom of the ladder after the first three rounds of the season. It was an almost inconceivable situation before the start of 2017, but three consecutive losses have consigned the Hawks to a 0-3 start. The last time the Hawks were in that situation was 2005, Alastair Clarkson's first season in charge. Hawthorn looked slow and listless against the Suns; they were second to the ball and often seemed to be waiting for teammates to get the ball rather than getting it themselves. Opponents were left in too much space in dangerous areas, and there was often a lack of communication in defence.

Read: Match report Suns vs Hawks

Suns bounce back in style


Gold Coast had endured a week from hell after its capitulation against Greater Western Sydney the previous match. Coach Rodney Eade, in the last year of his contract, had question marks over his future at the club, and the side was expected to slump to another loss. But the Suns came out firing, leading from the first siren to the last, and piling on an astonishing 10 goals in the third quarter alone. They played with confidence and skill, epitomised by Sean Lemmens' baulk and goal around the imposing Luke Hodge in the third term. It was the club's first ever win over Hawthorn and it was done in style, the biggest win in club history. 

 

Ablett answers critics


Gary Ablett has been another to have a tough week, with much discussion over his comparatively average form and his playing future at the Suns. Ablett reiterated comments made in November last year, admitting this season could be his last. But the former captain led from the front in the Suns' big win. Ablett won the first clearance of the match, and broke free from Will Langford's niggling tag to finish with a game-high 36 disposals, 10 clearances and two goals. While not at his very best, he was calm and collected in the middle of the ground, and creative in his ball use. 

Read: Season not over yet, says Clarko

It’s a topsy-turvy season

Who would have thought at the start of the year that Hawthorn and Sydney, the two most successful teams of the past five years, would be winless after Round 3? It looked like dire straits for the Tigers and their head honcho at the end of last season, but suddenly Damien Hardwick’s men are 3-0. The Kangaroos have swapped their 9-0 2016 season start for a 0-3 ’17. The Crows have gone from a bottom-of-the-eight team to genuine premiership contenders, and the luckless Dockers have embarrassed the reigning premiers.

It’s a funny game, football.

 

Only up from here

Currently at the very bottom of the AFL ladder, there is only one way for the Hawks to go. The next few weeks will be by no means easy (with Geelong and West Coast to come in the next fortnight), but the Hawks will utilise their seven-day break and prepare as best as possible for the upcoming Easter Monday clash. And as history tells us, anything can happen when the Hawks and Cats meet.