In a Tweet

The Rundown

This Round 1 blockbuster-clash enjoyed a huge build-up, with massive stories headlining the Hawks’ season opener. Newly-appointed captain Jarryd Roughead was returning to the field after spending a year on the sidelines, while Essendon were welcoming back their banned players to give their side a completely different look to the year previous.

It was the Bombers who burst out of the gates early, kicking the game’s first three goals to go to the first break with a 13-point lead.

The Hawks reined that margin back, with a dominant quarter that could have been even more so had they managed to convert more than four of their 11 scoring shots for the term.

But the Hawks' eight-point ascendancy at the main break was the last time they held sway in the game, as the Bombers’ 12-goal-to-six second half proved too much  for the boys in the brown and gold to handle.

The Star

Having not played a game in 566 days, Dyson Heppell showed no signs of rust as he led his side with 34 disposals and three goals. 16 of his possessions were contested, with Heppell also gathering eight marks and seven tackles. In his first game as the Bombers’ skipper, Heppell was outstanding, pivotal especially in the Dons’ all-important third term.

The Moment

With nine minutes to go in the game, the Hawks were beginning to put pressure on the Dons’ 21-point lead.

The ball was deep inside the Bombers’ forward 50, in the hands of Hawks defender Taylor Duryea. The game seemed at a point where if the Hawks were able to kick another goal, it would be game on, but if the Bombers could find one more they would put the game beyond doubt.

Unfortunately for Hawks fans it was the latter that occurred as Duryea’s pressured kick found its way into the hands of Dyson Heppell at the top of the forward arc.

With a set shot from outside 50, the newly-appointed Bombers skipper booted home the game’s sealer as the Hawks were forced to come to terms with an opening round loss.

The Coach

"They controlled the ball. Particularly early in the season, the rule of thumb for me is if a team wins uncontested marks by that margin you're going to be in some trouble. But having said that strangely enough we had our chances. We kicked 12.19 and some of those goals I'm thinking we usually nail. But that's poor football when you don't convert your chances."

  • Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson

 

ESSENDON             4.4      5.8       12.12           17.14 (116)                  
HAWTHORN            2.3      6.10     10.14           12.19 (91)      

GOALS
Essendon: Fantasia 4, Daniher 3, Hooker 3, Heppell 3, Stanton 2, Zaharakis, McKernan
Hawthorn: Roughead 2, Puopolo 2, McEvoy 2, Rioli, Breust, Schoenmakers, Shiels, Hartung, Smith

BEST
Essendon: Merrett, Heppell, Goddard, Watson, Daniher, Parish
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Langford, O'Meara, Burgoyne, Birchall

INJURIES 
Essendon: Nil
Hawthorn: Rioli (thigh)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Foot, Findlay, McInerney

Official crowd: 78,294 at the MCG