TonyK
CibbuanoHawks take top spot
May 25th 2008 07:44
HAWTHORN has taken sole possession of top spot on the AFL ladder after grinding out a 19-point win over bottom-placed Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.
The Hawks, who trailed for most of the afternoon, booted the last three goals of the match to record a gutsy 14.13(97) to 12.6 (78) win.
With defending premier Geelong falling to Collingwood on Friday night, the Hawks now occupy top spot with a 9-0 win-loss record - the first time in club history that they've won their first nine matches.
The win was soured somewhat for the Hawks with veteran Stuart Dew suffering a hamstring injury just before half-time - he played no part in the second half.
Sam Mitchell starred for the Hawks with a game-high 32 possessions, while Chance Bateman was also busy in the middle with 28 disposals.
Up forward, Mark Williams, Cyril Rioli and Lance Franklin stepped up when it mattered, booting three goals each.
For Melbourne, Brock McLean dominated early in the middle, collecting 20 of his 30 possessions in the first half, while Ben Holland booted three goals in his first game of the season.
The Demons controlled the midfield battle early, winning the clearances 12 to four in the opening term.
McLean was particularly influential with 13 first-term possessions as the Demons took a six point lead into quarter-time after Russell Robertson kicked his second goal of the term from an acute angle after the siren.
The first half featured four lead changes, with Melbourne building on their quarter-time advantage with a two goal to one second term to take a nine-point lead into the main break.
The Demons looked set to record one of the biggest upsets of the season when Holland kicked his third at the 17-minute mark of the third term to give the Demons a 13-point lead.
But a superb Rioli snap sparked the Hawks into action as they slammed on four goals in a stunning seven-minute burst to take a 10-point lead into the final change.
The Demons regained the lead twice in a frantic final term before the class of Hawthorn came to the fore.
Rioli gave Hawthorn the lead with his third of the second half before Williams booted consecutive goals, the second with four minutes remaining securing the four premiership points for the Hawks.
MELBOURNE: 4.3, 6.4, 9.5, 12.6 (78)
HAWTHORN: 3.3, 4.7, 10.9, 14.13 (97)
GOALS: Melbourne: Holland 3, Robertson 2, Wonaemirri 2, Jones 2, Johnson, Davey, Bruce
Hawthorn: Franklin 3, Rioli 3, Williams 3, Roughead, Ladson, Ellis, Campbell, Clarke
BEST: Melbourne: McLean, Bate, Davey, Bruce, Jones, Wonaemirri, Holland, Warnock
Hawthorn: Bateman, Birchall, Sewell, Mitchell, Ladson, Brown, Rioli, Morton, Williams
INJURIES: Melbourne: Nil
Hawthorn: Lewis (corked thigh) replaced in selected side by Morton, Dew (hamstring)
UMPIRES: James, Grun, Armstrong
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Melbourne: White replaced in selected side by Jamar.
Hawthorn: Lewis replaced in selected side by Morton
CROWD: 41,381 at MCG
The Hawks, who trailed for most of the afternoon, booted the last three goals of the match to record a gutsy 14.13(97) to 12.6 (78) win.
With defending premier Geelong falling to Collingwood on Friday night, the Hawks now occupy top spot with a 9-0 win-loss record - the first time in club history that they've won their first nine matches.
The win was soured somewhat for the Hawks with veteran Stuart Dew suffering a hamstring injury just before half-time - he played no part in the second half.
Sam Mitchell starred for the Hawks with a game-high 32 possessions, while Chance Bateman was also busy in the middle with 28 disposals.
Up forward, Mark Williams, Cyril Rioli and Lance Franklin stepped up when it mattered, booting three goals each.
For Melbourne, Brock McLean dominated early in the middle, collecting 20 of his 30 possessions in the first half, while Ben Holland booted three goals in his first game of the season.
The Demons controlled the midfield battle early, winning the clearances 12 to four in the opening term.
McLean was particularly influential with 13 first-term possessions as the Demons took a six point lead into quarter-time after Russell Robertson kicked his second goal of the term from an acute angle after the siren.
The first half featured four lead changes, with Melbourne building on their quarter-time advantage with a two goal to one second term to take a nine-point lead into the main break.
The Demons looked set to record one of the biggest upsets of the season when Holland kicked his third at the 17-minute mark of the third term to give the Demons a 13-point lead.
But a superb Rioli snap sparked the Hawks into action as they slammed on four goals in a stunning seven-minute burst to take a 10-point lead into the final change.
The Demons regained the lead twice in a frantic final term before the class of Hawthorn came to the fore.
Rioli gave Hawthorn the lead with his third of the second half before Williams booted consecutive goals, the second with four minutes remaining securing the four premiership points for the Hawks.
MELBOURNE: 4.3, 6.4, 9.5, 12.6 (78)
HAWTHORN: 3.3, 4.7, 10.9, 14.13 (97)
GOALS: Melbourne: Holland 3, Robertson 2, Wonaemirri 2, Jones 2, Johnson, Davey, Bruce
Hawthorn: Franklin 3, Rioli 3, Williams 3, Roughead, Ladson, Ellis, Campbell, Clarke
BEST: Melbourne: McLean, Bate, Davey, Bruce, Jones, Wonaemirri, Holland, Warnock
Hawthorn: Bateman, Birchall, Sewell, Mitchell, Ladson, Brown, Rioli, Morton, Williams
INJURIES: Melbourne: Nil
Hawthorn: Lewis (corked thigh) replaced in selected side by Morton, Dew (hamstring)
UMPIRES: James, Grun, Armstrong
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Melbourne: White replaced in selected side by Jamar.
Hawthorn: Lewis replaced in selected side by Morton
CROWD: 41,381 at MCG
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