Key forward fires Hawks past Suns into AFLW’s top two

Anna Harrington |

The Hawks have won their fourth match in a row to move into second spot on the AFLW ladder.
The Hawks have won their fourth match in a row to move into second spot on the AFLW ladder.

Led by star forward Aine McDonagh, Hawthorn have surged into the AFLW’s top two with a comfortable 23-point win over struggling Gold Coast.

The Hawks held off a late surge from the Suns and claimed their fourth win on the bounce, leading from start to finish in their 8.12 (60) to 6.1 (37) win at Frankston’s Kinetic Stadium on Saturday.

Hawthorn are second behind leaders North Melbourne, four points clear of Melbourne, who play on Sunday.

Gold Coast had no answers for Irishwoman McDonagh, who kicked three goals and had another four behinds, while veteran Kaitlyn Ashmore snagged two well-timed majors.

“We’re delighted we got to close out that game,” McDonagh told Fox Sports.

Aine McDonagh was one of the stars of the Hawks' win over Gold Coast.
Hawthorn’s Aine McDonagh was a constant threat with three goals in the win over the Suns. (Rob Prezioso/AAP PHOTOS)

“It was a bit tough. The conditions are always tough down here in Frankston.

“We dropped it in the last quarter, we weren’t too happy with that, but it’s just improvement for next week.”

With Hawthorn skipper Emily Bates sidelined, ruck Lucy Wales (18 disposals, 20 hitouts) and midfielders Eliza West (18 disposals) and Jasmine Fleming (17 disposals) shared the ball around.

Defenders Laura Elliott and Jenna Richardson (seven intercepts apiece) were influential as Hawthorn’s backline held up terrifically.

Gold Coast’s Charlie Rowbottom (28 disposals, nine tackles, five clearances), Niamh McLaughlin (20 disposals) and Maddy Brancatisano (20 disposals) were busy, and Jacqueline Dupuy kicked three goals.

Fast-starting Hawthorn nudged to a 15-point lead at quarter-time.

Jamie Stanton soccered through the Suns’ first, but it didn’t slow down the Hawks.

Star forward Greta Bodey put an exclamation mark on the first-half dominance when she curled through a wonderful goal on the run to nudge the lead out to 28 points.

Dupuy earned a free kick from point-blank range to cut the halftime margin to 22 points.

McDonagh and Ashmore kicked goals in quick succession to deliver a game-high 38-point lead.

Havana Harris kicked a superb goal from the pocket to stop the rot late in the third term, with Hawthorn up by 32 at the final change.

Harris’s major proved the first of four consecutive goals for the Suns.

Gold Coast came home with a wet sail, with Meara Girvan and Dupuy kicking terrific goals, but it proved too little too late.

The Hawks’ Laura Stone snagged a goal just before the final siren.

Hawthorn next play Port Adelaide at Alberton on Friday, and Gold Coast travel to Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena to play the Western Bulldogs next Sunday.

AAP