In a tweet 

The Rundown

The Bombers got the early jump at the MCG, kicking four goals to two in the opening term.

The Hawks however managed to reel in the margin in a dominant third-term display which saw them pile on six goals to Essendon’s one behind and go into the final change 31 points up.

Despite their opposition stringing three consecutive goals together midway through the last quarter, the Hawks held on to claim an integral 23-point win, propelling them back in to the top four.

Skipper Jarryd Roughead was important up forward with three majors, while Tom Mitchell continued to rack up the disposals with 29 through the midfield.

The Star

Emerging gun James Sicily was the Hawks’ best for the afternoon, picking up a game-high 29 disposals and 14 marks to go with a long-range goal from inside the centre square.

The 23-year-old was crucial in repelling the Bombers’ forward forays with his intercept marking down back and provided plenty of rebound in what was one of his best games in his short career.

The Moment

With seconds remaining in the third term Hawk Taylor Duryea sent a long ball to the top of the goal square where it spilt into the roving Tom Mitchell’s hands, with the midfielder slotting a goal as the siren sounded. While it was contentious as to whether or not Mitchell beat the siren, the Hawks got the rub of the green and importantly pushed their lead out beyond five goals.

The Coach

“To be four goals to one down and then get some control back of the game in the middle quarters was really important for us. It was a tough grind and it was really good for our coaching staff and really good for our playing group to be challenged and try to find a way to win.”

  • Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson

 

ESSENDON                 4.2   5.5    5.6  10.7  (67)
HAWTHORN               2.4   4.4  10.7  13.12 (90)

GOALS

Essendon: Baguley, Stewart, Ambrose, Parish, Mutch, Daniher, Bellchambers, Heppell, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Hooker
Hawthorn: Roughead 3, Smith 2, O'Meara, Whitecross, Gunston, Breust, Sicily, Mitchell, Impey, Shiels

BEST 

Essendon: Bellchambers, Hooker, Hurley, Stewart
Hawthorn: Sicily, Roughead, O'Meara, Smith, Mitchell

INJURIES 

Essendon: Nil
Hawthorn: Henderson out (illness) replaced in selected side by Cousins, Langford out (back spasms) replaced in selected side by Whitecross

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Dalgleish, Mollison, Wallace

Official crowd: 53,018 at the MCG