West Coast has won their ninth game in a row and quashed rumours they're only a quality side at their home ground, after outlasting Hawthorn in a tight encounter at Etihad Stadium.
The biggest margin in the first three quarters was only 12 points, with neither side able to kick clear, but the Eagles were eventually able to cut off Hawthorn’s avenues to goal, conceding just three second half goals.
Jarman Impey was close to the most influential player in the first half, sharing a hand in most Hawthorn goals, after converting the opening goal of the game on the run.
The Eagles answered swiftly, as Jake Waterman intercepted a terribly risky switch across goal, and handballed to Willie Rioli 15m out, before Jamie Cripps continued the small forward goal pattern, breaking out of a David Mirra tackle and curling the ball through.
Waterman had a few forgettable moments, missing an easy chance and then horribly miscuing a short pass despite being well within his range, while up the other end, Jaeger O’Meara also missed a relatively easy opportunity.
The game moved slowly, as both sides applied good pressure around the contest, and defended well.
In-form forward Jack Darling marked strongly inside the forward 50, and again the Eagles were able to turn set shots into easy walk-in goals; this time it was Kennedy finding space out the back and hitting the scoreboard.
The Hawks responded, as Impey found Jonathon Ceglar, in his first AFL game for nearly two years after James Cousins was a late withdrawal with concussion issues.
He kicked truly, delighting the Hawks' players and fans alike.
Rioli gave away an undisciplined fifty metre penalty to Blake Hardwick, who brought it back to three goals apiece on the stroke of quarter-time.
Both midfields were competing hard in the contest, with Mitchell and O’Meara giving the Hawks an edge in spite of Elliot Yeo, who played another blinder.
It was O’Meara who gave Hawthorn back the lead, kicking a classy goal from wide in the pocket - his major one of a number of times the Hawks were able to crumb the ball quickly at half forward, bypassing the pack and finding space in front of them.
The story of the game arguably followed Jeremy McGovern, who at his best neutralised those contests and stopped the Hawks in their tracks.
Nevertheless, Hawthorn kicked another when Impey again scored on the run, from 45m out, giving the Hawks four in a row to rattle the visitors.
The Eagles struggled to get the ball forward, but eventually a brilliant Rioli crumb and left foot snap - all in one motion - got the Eagles back into the contest, before Waterman followed suit, levelling the scores at 5.2 apiece with another crumb.
Jack Gunston had a goal overturned on the video review, as scoring chances remained elusive.
The Eagles defence were ever-reliable, while Ben Stratton fought terrifically for Hawthorn, keeping Darling quiet.
Chances to score remained elusive as the game developed into a slog, before a Rioli hanger at half-back broke the deadlock and the Eagles moved the ball forward where star forward pocket Mark LeCras kicked accurately.
Struggling badly to take marks in scoring positions, it took an innovative Ricky Henderson handball along the ground in the pocket to set up the Hawks’ next goal, when Paul Puopulo drilled a snap from out wide.
The one-point quarter-time margin was reduced to zero by half-time, as composure under pressure became critical.
The normally-damaging Isaac Smith often found space bursting out of the backline, but let himself down with poor disposal use - his impact on the game not reflecting the effort he was exerting.
Andrew Gaff kicked the second half off on the right foot for West Coast, snapping truly and giving the Eagles a lead they would hold until the game’s finish, before Kennedy, who showed class from limited opportunities, kicked his second.
The Eagles kicked five of the last six goals, but shortly afterwards Ben McEvoy found O’Meara with a nervy pass, who kicked his second.
The Hawks seemed to have the edge around the contest, as despite Yeo’s consistent output, Liam Shiels, O’Meara and Mitchell were overwhelming the Eagles' workmanlike centres Jack Redden and Dom Sheed.
However in general play, Gaff was everywhere, and once consistent defenders Hurn and Sheppard regained possession, they managed to spend most of the quarter forward, where Chris Masten on his left foot kicked what was either the best goal of his career or a very lucky accident.
West Coast’s taller players exerted more and more impact the longer the game went, and clearly worried the Hawks' defence, who started conceding more free kicks in marking contests.
The third quarter seemed to be all West Coast, but Smith snapped a goal to keep the scores close heading into the last quarter.
Nic Naitanui took control in the final period, pulling in a terrific pack mark and opening the margin back up in the opening minutes, while gaining ascendency in his tough duel with McEvoy.
Kennedy kicked his third from another marking infringement as the Eagles locked the game down, not allowing the Hawks to move the ball quickly, then feasting on the high balls they ended up sending them.
Slowly the time for a comeback dissipated, and the Eagles held control for most of the last quarter.
The final margin sat at 15 points, after O’Meara was rewarded for a day of non-stop competing in close with his third goal.
West Coast have now won nine in a row and will finish the round three games clear in the top-four, before hosting St Kilda next Saturday night.
Hawthorn meanwhile have dipped to 5-5, ahead of a suddenly critical match-up with Port Adelaide in Tasmania next week.
HAWTHORN 3.1 6.3 8.6 9.6 (60) WEST COAST 3.2 6.3 9.6 11.9 (75)
GOALS
Hawthorn: O’Meara 3, Impey 2, Puopulo, Ceglar, Hardwick, Smith
West Coast: Kennedy 3, Rioli 2, Gaff, Waterman, Cripps, LeCras, Masten, Naitanui
BEST
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Shiels, Stratton, Impey, O’Meara
West Coast: Yeo, Naitanui, Gaff, McGovern, Sheppard
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
West Coast: Nil
TALKING POINTS
1. THE MISSING PIECE
Liam Ryan and Eric Mackenzie are good players, but the Eagles’ injury list right now boils down to one man: Luke Shuey.
They’ve defeated Port Adelaide, Greater Western Sydney, Richmond and Hawthorn without him, but today was the day their midfield has looked the most vulnerable.
Jack Redden has had a brilliant few weeks and competed well today, but didn’t look as good as his 25 disposals suggested, while Dom Sheed was also solid without leaving any Hawks fans tearing their hair out.
The Eagles were beaten around the contest for much of the day by Jaeger O’Meara, Tom Mitchell and Liam Shiels, and were lucky their defence held up as well as it did.
Adam Simpson suggested yesterday that Shuey will be right to go next week, and while the Eagles have just come off a tough run of games and would be expected to beat St Kilda next week with or without Shuey, his likely inclusion will be welcomed by the Eagles.
2. THEY DON’T GET ANY SMALLER
It’s one of the oldest footy clichés, but it was so evident as the second half went on.
Jarman Impey’s dash and evasion was instrumental early as the Hawks looked to bypass the West Coast key backs Tom Barrass and Jeremy McGovern.
But as Hawthorn seemingly ran out of run, the Eagles' taller players kept getting on the end of long kicks at either end of the ground, and time and time again they drew free kicks from concerned opponents.
Nic Naitanui, Josh Kennedy, and Jeremy McGovern were telling, and even then the next-most likely in the air seemed to be Jack Darling, as the Hawks’ decision to play two ruckmen seemed to rob them of run, while they similarly didn’t impact much in the marking contests.
The longer the match went on, the slower the game was, and the more the Eagles were served the opportunity win the ball in the air.
WHAT’S THE FIX FOR THE HAWKS?
Taken in isolation, the Hawks were competitive against the top side today, and may not need to panic.
But they have lost three in a row, and given their lack of convincing forays forward in the second half, they were arguably flattered by the margin.
Their forward line was ordinary at best and they definitely looked like they were missing Cyril Rioli.
Rioli has struggled to find much of the ball when in this season however, and the Hawks desperately need marking targets.
Jack Gunston doesn’t play particularly tall - when he isn’t in the half back line - and Jarryd Roughead, who was quite good today, was always pushed a long way up the ground in order to present.
Tim O’Brien would have to be considered for next week, and another option would be to shift James Sicily forward, where he started his career.
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