Hawthorn’s VFLW team defeated Essendon for the second time this year when the two sides met on Sunday afternoon. 

The home side handled the wet conditions with a touch more class, this time running out 27-point victors at Box Hill City Oval.

A quick start from Vice Captain Tamara Luke got the Hawks on the scoreboard within the first minute. It was a scrappy contest from both sides, as the Hawks fiercely battled strong pressure from their opposition. It was Captain Emma Mackie who got the next break, with an impressive snap from the pocket for the Hawks’ second. This was followed by a quick reply from Essendon, as Valerie Moreau kicked the Bombers’ first goal in the dying seconds of the opening term.

Read: High-flying Hawks sink the Suns

The second quarter saw both sides struggle to hit the scoreboard, with the Hawks scoring just the one major through youngster Olivia Flanagan, while Essendon went goalless.

A half-time reset led to a more composed home side, as they hunted their targets and took clean possession. Despite more inside 50 entries, the inaccuracy in front of the goal continued, with both teams unable to impact the scoreboard.

Heading into the final term with a 20-point lead, the Hawks’ goal drought ended as debutants Emerson Woods and Mikala Cann capitalised on opportunities to extend the margin. The Bombers broke their deadlock by kicking their second goal of the game in the last minutes, but it was too little too late as the Hawks ran away victors 5.11(41) to 2.2(14). 

Watch: Hear from Chantella Perera post match

The Hawks will take a break from their home ground next week, as they play Richmond at Swinburne Centre on Saturday June 30th. 

HAWTHORN    2.1 3.2 3.9 5.11 (45)
ESSENDON     1.0 1.6 1.1 2.1 (12) 

GOALS
Hawthorn: Luke, Mackie, Flanagan, Woods, Cann
Essendon: Moreau 

BEST
Hawthorn: Kuys, Mackie, Luke, Ebb, Nixon, Cann
Essendon: Collier, Morecroft, Morcom, Warburton, Trend, Hetherington