Hawk Liam Shiels kicks around the body in front of Kangaroo Luke McDonald. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: News Corp Australia
SOMEONE has forgot to tell the Hawks these are scratch matches.
After belittling the little leaguers from Brisbane, the Hawks last night terrorised North Melbourne, winning their NAB Challenge match by 65 points In Launceston.
Their pressure was outstanding form the start, the use of the ball clinical and the game was over midway through the third quarter.
Skipper Luke Hodge played a two and half quarters in his first hit out of the season and had 16 touches.
Kangaroo Lindsay Thomas takes a huge grab over Kurt Heatherley. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: News Corp Australia
The Kangaroos, who many expect to be a strong contender for the top four, were extremely disappointing, managing just three goals in the first half and seven for the game.
The final score was 18.10 (118) to 7.11 (53).
The first quarter decided the contest.
The Hawks kicked six goals to one, with Liam Shiels, playing in the midfield, kicking three goals.
It was fair first quarter, as he collected 14 touches and laid two tackles.
The second quarter was more even. Aaron Black and Drew Petrie got on the end of breakaway football form half-back and kicked a goal each, and it was far more even around the contest.
Still, Petrie, the acting captain last night, felt the need to the earnestly talk to his teammates before leaving the ground at half-time.
Hawk Sam Mitchell under pressure from Nick Dal Santo. Picture: Ross Marsden Source: News Corp Australia
Maybe it was Hawthorn’s powerhouse pressure, but the Kangaroos’ renowned run and link game was curtailed.
Maybe the Kangaroos, after being opened up at critical stages in 2013, are working on a more defensive system.
Without Brian Lake (suspended), Grant Birchall (rested) and Ben Stratton (rested), the Hawks played an undersized defensive group..
Kyle Cheney started on Petrie, Hodge got Daniel Currie, Josh Gibson had Black, and the boy from New Zealand, Kurt Heatherley, played on the boy from Sudan, Majak Daw.
Daw had a quiet night.
Kangaroo Majak Daw takes a breather up forward. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: News Corp Australia
A bloke in the crowd, who had a young boy with him, had a worse night. He was ejected in the third quarter for racially abusing Daw, and then argued with North fans as he was being escorted by police.
Despite it being a NAB Challenge, the Hawks furious with their pressure, helping them to sizeable advantage with inside 50s — 55-35.
Their forward line, led by Jack Gunston and Jarryd Roughead, was well serviced by Will Langford (three goals) and 2012 draftee Tim O’Brien (three goals).
O’Brien would appear to be the most popular player among Hawks fans. In the crowd, hundreds of kids were wearing is No. 23 jumper.
Positives were Brad Hill, who is a more confident and better skilled player this year, Sam Mitchell had 28 touches, and Cyril Rioli was strong off half-back again.
For North, Black looked dangerous as a key forward and he is an automatic selection beside Petrie, first-year player Luke McDonald impressed again, and Ben Cunnington (11 tackles) fought the tide.
North youngster Taylor Garner suffered a hamstring injury in the second quarter.
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