Ginnivan’s teammate ‘wasn’t a fan’ of his showboating in crucial win; PM a happy Hawk at Marvel Stadium
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Analysis: Why tonight’s game says plenty about both the Hawks and the Dogs AFL great Nathan Buckley said through the week that this clash at Marvel Stadium was one where the suddenly struggling Hawks “will find out a lot about themselves”. In truth, the same could have been said about the Western Bulldogs, who limped into the bye.
The Hawks needed to find a way to resuscitate their season, having dropped their past three games, and lost skipper James Sicily to injury. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, needed to reaffirm why they are seen as a legitimate finals, if not premiership, threat.
By late Thursday night, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese – complete with his Hawks’ scarf – still in the house, the result was clear: the Hawks, stung by a week of criticism, are a top-four and premiership threat. The Bulldogs, now 6-6, have much work to do if they are simply to make the finals.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was all smiles with Hawks president Andy Gowers. Credit: AFL Photos
Having laid just 74 tackles over the past fortnight, the Hawks finished this clash with 82, in an inspired 12.9 (81) to 8.11 (59) win.
“They have just been relentless in their pressure,” Cats great Tom Hawkins said during commentary on Fox Footy.
The victory improved their record to 8-5, and they once again are firmly in top-four calculations.
As Hawkins alluded to, this win was as much about attitude, as it was game plan.
The Hawks worked for each other, and thrived in stoppage work.
“Our defence has lacked a bit of effort and energy over the past few weeks,” defender Josh Battle said.
The Bulldogs began sluggishly, and never really got going outside of a burst in the third term. That the Dogs were held to only 18 inside 50s to half-time – their lowest tally to that point of the game this season – told the tale. By the end, the Hawks won this key tally 58-43.
AFL great Jimmy Bartel pointed out that the Hawks had struggled when opponents took the speed out of the game, impacting the run-and-gun style they had wanted to play. Their exit kicks had also been stymied.
That wasn’t a problem against the Bulldogs, who came with a game plan, but lacked their typical polish in their handball game.
Jarman Impey celebrates a telling Hawks goal. Credit: AFL Photos
The Dogs employed a spare man in defence, or behind the ball. That worked, to a point, but it meant they were a man short when they did win the contest and streamed forward.
Aaron Naughton had a plan to drag Battle further up the ground and out of his comfort zone, the former Saint having been the plank in defence. It worked well in the third term when the ball got out the back and Laitham Vandermeer twice pounced. However, come game’s end, with Naughton goalless and restricted to nine touches (just four to half-time), the Hawks had won this battle.
Jack Ginnivan backed up his fine effort against Collingwood with another strong performance. Dropped to the VFL earlier this season, he had two goals and 23 touches, and couldn’t help himself when he “showed the ball” to the trailing Dogs’ defenders after taking t
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