Sam Mitchell has struck the primary blow in his teaching rivalry with former mentor Alastair Clarkson, with Hawthorn holding off a final-quarter surge from North Melbourne in Launceston to win by 19 factors.
The Hawks seemed in whole management within the first half however a run of 5 consecutive North Melbourne targets trimmed the margin to only three factors halfway by way of the ultimate quarter earlier than Hawthorn steadied, operating out winners 11.14 (80) to 9.7 (61).
It was the Hawks’ first victory of the season, and a primary defeat for the Kangaroos.
The Kangaroos laid simply 16 tackles and had 56 fewer uncontested possessions in a lacklustre first half, and whereas they raised their depth to problem thereafter, the injury was completed.
With co-captain Jy Simpkin lacking by way of suspension, North Melbourne’s midfield was dealt one other big blow minutes earlier than the opening bounce, when gun midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke withdrew with calf tightness.
Hawthorn’s younger midfield had been in a position to maintain their very own round stoppages, permitting defenders akin to James Sicily (28 disposals, 18 marks), Jack Scrimshaw (25 disposals, 9 marks) and Blake Hardwick (23 disposals, 11 marks) to regulate the sport from half again.
The Hawks’ capacity to select by way of North Melbourne’s defensive zone with affected person, exact ball motion and a willingness to take dangers by foot allowed them to complete with 80 extra uncontested possessions and 51 extra marks.
Dylan Moore confirmed his class and creativity all through, establishing a string of targets, whereas Will Day labored tirelessly within the center, notching 28 possessions.
Lively small ahead Tyler Brockman kicked three targets in his first match since 2021, whereas Fergus Greene proved a harmful main ahead, with two targets to go along with eight rating involvements.
Rising Kangaroos star Harry Sheezel fell 5 possessions in need of 30 – had he completed so he would have been the primary participant in AFL historical past to succeed in that milestone in every of his first three video games.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
