Hawthorn has all but crushed Essendon’s September hopes with a four-point victory at the MCG, temporarily moving into third position on the ladder as a result.
Fans were promised a game of intense rivalry and both teams delivered with a tight contest that had fans nervous until the very end.
However the contest was less impressive in the first half, with both teams taking turns to drop their intensity and let their opposition kick series of unanswered majors.
Despite the efforts of Zach Merrett (41 disposals) and Jake Stringer (three goals, 11 score involvements), Hawthorn’s defence, led by Ben Stratton (11 marks), and potent attack of Jack Gunston (five goals) and Luke Breust (three goals) were too good for the Bombers.
In the opening term Essendon came out firing, scoring the first three goals of the quarter and keeping the pressure on the Hawks.
The Bombers dominated the play early on and the Hawks’ defence looked a step behind with Essendon's forwards consistently finding space.
But halfway through the quarter, Hawthorn switched on, and Essendon found themselves playing a new team.
Tom Mitchell led by example and racked up 13 disposals in the opening term, while Merrett played a solid quarter, despite a costly miss for goal, in his 100th game.
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti nabbed the first major of the game after his opponent ditched him to double team Tom Bellchambers, before the Bombers extended the lead with a nice goal from Connor McKenna thanks to a speedy handball from Orazio Fantasia.
Hawthorn struggled against the Bomber’s pressure and repeatedly fumbled their kicks to Essendon’s advantage.
When the Hawks eventually managed to bring the ball into their forward 50 however, their efforts went unrewarded with Gunston’s first shot on goal drifting to the left.
But as Ricky Henderson converted a few mintues later, the Hawks subsequently upped up their intensity and forward pressure, with Isaac Smith running on to open goal to bring the margin to just six points.
Essendon looked set to respond with a goal of their own, and quickly moved the ball down the corridor in exciting play that had fans on the edge of their seats.
However, they failed to convert the effort of their fast-moving midfield into a goal, with a rushed behind their only reward.
The behind cost them, as Hawthorn managed to work the ball down the ground to Gunston, who scored his first goal
.
It was to be the last of the quarter, which ended with Essendon leading by just two points despite their early dominance.
The start of the second term saw Essendon play like they did at the start of the game, with three goals in five minutes to show for it.
But much like the opening term, the momentum suddenly swung in favour of the Hawks, with the brown and gold lifting to match, and then overtake, Essendon’s intensity.
Hawthorn’s defensive structure was undoubtedly their strength and Essendon struggled to break through the Hawks' zone with their usual speed.
Tom Mitchell (29 disposals for the first half) proved troublesome for the Bombers, with the decision to have Dyson Heppell tag him significantly hampering the latter's offensive game.
The second term opened with Stringer taking a nice mark in the goal square but he selflessly played on and handballed to Mark Baguely who scored his first major.
Essendon maintained their intensity and a clean kick from McKenna saw him jag his second for the game.
As Stringer continued to lift, his efforts finally resulted in a shot of his own, and the Bombers seemed well in control with an early lead to boot.
But Hawthorn limited Essendon's time in the sun, bouncing back with five unanswered goals.
It was Gunston who ended the Bombers’ spell, snapping the footy between the sticks after breaking free of congestion, before Breust went back-to-back, one of which coming off the back of a costly Essendon turnover.
As Henderson slotted another just minutes lataer, the Hawks creeped in front for the first time of the match, placing seeds of concern in the Bomber camp.
The pressure took its toll on Essendon, and another turnover saw Smith score his second major for the Hawks.
It was Hawthorn’s well-structured zone which forced many of the Bombers' turnovers and prevented them from moving the ball down the line with the quick pace they usually favour.
Despite his team’s poor performance, Adam Saad was a strong figure in defence, preventing a goal with his well-known zip and a great spoil.
Finally Essendon re-emerged, and Fantasia sprinted to the goal square to boot the ball over the line soccer-style, scoring a much-needed six points for the Dons.
Yet the six points Essendon just gained didn’t last long, as Jarryd Roughhead finished the second half off with a goal to bring the margin to 11 points.
The third term proved the most competitive quarter of the game, with both teams putting up a solid performance.
In what was becoming a familiar pattern, Hawthorn started off slow while Essendon came out firing and jagged the first two goals of the half.
The momentum didn’t swing drastically between the two teams as it had in the first half, with both teams maintaining their intensity throughout the quarter in what was fast becoming a tight and intense contest.
Stringer was a strong figure up forward for the Bombers, while Tom Mitchel’s dominance temporarily took a back seat; his six disposals for the quarter a modest total for him.
Again Essendon scored the first goal of the term, with Baguely putting through his second.
Stringer’s strong performance continued, with his work around the ground rewarding Brown with another major,t, before Jonathon Ceglar turned the tide once again with a strong grab and goal.
For a moment, it appeared the pattern of the first half would repeat itself and the momentum would switch in the Hawks' favour, but a spectacular 60m kick for goal from Cale Hooker broke the curse.
Essendon continued to keep their intensity up and Bellchambers took a great mark right in front of the goals to score his first.
Another Bombers’ major followed, as Baguely sprinted after the ball with defenders hot on his heels before booting it over the line.
Hawthorn retaliated moments later, with Gunston converting for a third time with a nice snap from the boundary.
The game took a bad turn when Stringer, who had been one of Essendon’s best, hobbled off the ground after a knock during a contested mark - his ankle sore, but not preventing him from returning to the field of play.
Essendon’s intensity dropped in the final minutes and Hawthorn found themselves back in front thanks to goals from Breust (his third) and Whitecross respectively.
These two goals in the dying minutes of the term would ultimately cost the Bombers later in the game; and saw Hawthorn lead by a goal at the final change.
The fourth quarter started off with good news for Bomber’s fans as Stringer returned to the field, and with just six points the margin, it was clear his presence would be needed.
But nobody could have predicted just how close this contest would be, with both sides battling it out to the very end in a nail-biting one goal margin quarter.
Both teams missed opportunities early on, with nothing but behinds to show for the first 10 minutes of the quarter.
Hawthorn started off slow again and the intensity Essendon had began the previous terms with was missing, with their fatigue showing.
Eventually Hawthorn was able to gain the ascendancy throuuh Gunston, who kicked true after Brendon Goddard ran over the mark in a defensive 50 kick out.
It looked like the game was over for the Dons when Gunston kicked his fifth some minutes later, but Andrew McGrath responded with a goal, giving his team the chance they needed.
Essendon capitalised on that chance and Stringer ran onto an open goal to bring his side within 11 points with just under five minutes to go.
The Bombers' run continued against all odds, and a fantastic kick from Travis Colyer found Hooker, who kicked from the goal square to bring Essendon just one goal behind.
Hawthorn responded immediately, and a crucial goal by James Worpel seemed to kill any chance the Bombers had.
But then in the dying minute, Colyer stepped up and booted a goal from outside 50 to bring his side within four points with just 14 seconds to go.
It was a pivotal centre bounce that followed, and although Essendon desperately tried to get the ball out, it was Hawthorn who beat them to it and thus won the game.
Hawthorn will return to the MCG next Saturday to take on Geelong to reaffirm their position in the top-eight, while Essendon will play St Kilda next Friday night at Etihad Stadium.
HAWTHORN 3.1 9.3 13.5 16.11 (107)
ESSENDON 3.3 7.4 12.5 16.7 (103)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Gunston 5, Breust 3, Henderson 2, Smith 2, Roughead, Ceglar, Whitecross, Worpel
Essendon: Baguley 3, Stringer 3, Hooker 2, McKenna 2, Fantasia, Bellchambers, Brown, Colyer, McDonald-Tipungwuti, McGrath
BEST
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Gunston, Breust, Stratton, Henderson
Essendon: Stringer, Merrett, Saad, Baguely
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Essendon: Dea (concussion) replaced in the selected side by McNiece, Guelfi (illness) replaced in the selected side by McNiece
TALKING POINTS
1. ESSENDON'S SEPTEMBER DREAMS CRUSHED
Today’s loss means the Bombers' finals hopes are slimmer than before, if not all but impossible.
If they want to have a chance of finishing in the eight, they will need to win all of their remaining games, but with their run home including Richmond and Port Adelaide away, it’s a tough challenge.
Even if the Bombers do manage to finish the season off with three wins, they’ll still be reliant on results of other matches – a position no team wants to be in.
2. STATE OF THE GAME... NOT TODAY
AFL rule changes have been all the talk this week, with potential rule changes being tested earlier today in the VFL clash between Werribee and Coburg.
Football figureheads were quick to defend the game against rule changes following today’s nail-biting match.
Shane Crawford tweeted “Is the AFL game really in need of change?”, wile Kate Seear of The Outer Sanctum was also critical of the rule changes, pointing out today’s match was one of three games this round decided by a total of 10 points.
3. TOM MITCHELL CONTINUES TO DOMINATE
Tom Mitchell has consistently racked up the disposals every game, and today was no different.
The star midfield scored 43 touches (including 22 contested possessions) throughout the game, proving why he’s one of the favourites to take out this year’s Brownlow Medal.
Today marks his fourth consecutive game of over 40 disposals, and his 10th for the year.
He wasn’t the only player with 40 plus disposals, with Zach Merrett racking up 41 disposals and four tackles in an impressive display in his 100th game.
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