Hawthorn have pulled off a second sizeable upset in as many video games, denting the Western Bulldogs’ AFL finals hopes with a nail-biting three-point win in Launceston.
Starting the spherical sixteenth on the ladder, the Hawks held their nerve on Sunday afternoon to register their seventh victory of the season towards the sixth-placed Bulldogs.
The 9.13 (67) to 9.10 (64) end result comes after Hawthorn shocked ladder leaders Collingwood final weekend.
They have been forward by greater than three targets early within the ultimate time period earlier than the Bulldogs mounted a surge with two fast majors.
Bulldog Bailey Williams then reduce the margin to only two factors with lower than two minutes remaining however his crew have been left agonisingly quick.
Luke Beveridge’s males host West Coast subsequent spherical earlier than ending the common season with a visit to Geelong as they attempt to lock in a prime eight spot.
Jai Newcombe was excellent for the Hawks in his fiftieth AFL recreation, selecting up a game-high 40 disposals, a purpose and two assists.
The Hawks misplaced Chad Wingard inside the primary jiffy when the skilled ahead collapsed with a suspected achilles downside making an attempt to speed up.
It was a poorly timed blow for the off-contract 30-year-old, who has been sidelined with a number of accidents this yr together with a nasty tongue laceration.
He needed to be helped from the sector and was unable to place weight on his left foot.
Hawthorn shot themselves within the foot a number of occasions within the first half, with turnovers inside their very own 50 resulting in Bulldogs targets.
The Hawks conceded the opening three targets and trailed by 20 on the first beak however lowered the margin to 9 at halftime on the again of long-range efforts from Newcombe and Karl Amon.
The Bulldogs suffered an harm hit of their very own within the second quarter when Tom Liberatore was substituted out after being by accident knocked within the head by a knee.
Liberatore had blood operating from his head and was wobbly leaving the sector.
Hawthorn hit the lead for the primary time early within the third quarter when Luke Bruest transformed from shut vary.
The Bulldogs managed simply three behinds within the third time period with the breeze at their again.
James Worpel opened the scoring within the fourth time period for Hawthorn after the Bulldogs have been referred to as for a throw within the centre of the sector.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
