Saturday’s 36-point win against Essendon was some of the best football Hawthorn has played this year, according to VFLW assistant coach Dave Carden.
The Hawks came out firing at Windy Hill kicking seven first half goals, their largest score for a half of football this year.
They also kept a much-improved Essendon to their lowest score of the season, conceding just three goals.
“I thought it was a fantastic win, especially the first half, it was some of the best footy we’ve played all year,” explained Carden.
“We’ve been working really hard at training on the way we want to move the ball to get quality entries into the forward 50 and I thought today, especially in the first half, we were really able to cash in on the scoreboard.”
Of the Hawks’ seven goals there were five separate goal kickers, including one from debutant Jordan Membrey.
Membrey has made her way to the Hawks following two seasons of AFLW, one with Brisbane and more recently in 2019 with Collingwood.
“Jordy’s fantastic,” said Carden.
“What she brought up forward was just a great new look for us and she really played her role.
“We’re really happy with her.”
The next challenge for the Hawks is this Saturday against an in-form St Kilda.
The Saints are coming off the back of a strong 28-point win against Melbourne Uni and are sitting in fourth position on the ladder.
St Kilda will enter the AFLW competition next year having been awarded a license in 2017.
Carden believes St Kilda will provide one of the biggest challenges so far this season.
“They’ve got the AFL license, they’re moving into that (the AFLW) next year.
“We want to be there, we’ve made no bones about that, so this week we’ll be able to rise to the challenge against a really strong side and see how we can come off with a win.”
Hawthorn will play St Kilda this Saturday at 11.50am at Box Hill City Oval.
