Ginnivan stars as Hawks bury Magpies in AFL finals bid
Shayne Hope |
Hawthorn have given their AFL finals hopes a massive boost with a 66-point thumping of Collingwood which leaves the reigning premiers’ flag defence hanging by a thread.
Fan-favourite Jack Ginnivan starred against his former club in the Hawks’ dominant 20.13 (133) to 9.13 (67) victory on Saturday at a rain-drenched MCG.
Ginnivan returned from two weeks out with a hairline fracture of his fibula and produced career-high tallies of 31 disposals and four clearances in the best of his 58 games to date.
The 21-year-old livewire also kicked two goals, sparking wild celebrations when he struck in the third and fourth quarters as Hawthorn ran rampant in front of 74,171 fans.
They piled on 8.4 to 5.1 in a high-scoring final term, putting a full-stop on their most convincing performance of the season.
The Hawks’ seventh win from their past eight games put them within touching distance of the top eight, boasting a 10-8 record ahead of an away clash with Adelaide.
Collingwood (8-8-2) have lost four straight and are in serious danger of slipping out of contention after the heaviest defeat of premiership coach Craig McRae’s three seasons in charge.
Ginnivan shone in an irresistible team performance from Hawthorn, with Conor Nash (29 disposals, eight clearances), Jai Newcombe (25, six), Will Day (26, five) and James Worpel (28, five) all strong contributors.
Connor MacDonald kicked a career-high four goals as Luke Breust (four) and Nick Watson (three) also added multiple majors.
Versatile Hawks pair James Sicily and Blake Hardwick held firm in defence against an inaccurate Collingwood attack.
The Magpies had few winners, with Nick Daicos (24 disposals, six clearances) and Jack Crisp (22, six) fighting against the tide in the middle.
Steele Sidebottom and Bobby Hill were their only multiple goal-kickers with two each, while Dan McStay finished with 1.2 from eight touches in his first game back from a long-term knee injury.
Hawthorn dominated territory in the first term and led 28-11 early in the second when heavy rain hit.
The storm even brought some hail as Watson kicked a brilliant goal on the run to give his side a stranglehold on the contest.
Tempers flared when Brayden Maynard raised an elbow to deliver a high fend-off on former teammate Ginnivan and was immediately bumped heavily by Watson.
The Magpies lost Nathan Kreuger, who was substituted out with concussion, and conceded six consecutive goals as they trailed by 33 points at the main break.
McStay, Nick Daicos and Patrick Lipinski all missed shots at the end of the first half that could have reduced the deficit.
They were made to pay when the Hawks kicked the first three goals of the second half to extend their lead to 57 points, before Jordan De Goey struck to end a period of almost 80 minutes between Magpie majors.
Ginnivan responded with another Hawthorn goal from close range soon afterwards and was mobbed by his teammates.
AAP
