Hawthorn thrash Kangaroos, clinch AFL top eight spot
Ethan James |
Hawthorn will play AFL finals for the first time in six years after annihilating North Melbourne by 124 points in Launceston.
Seventh before the final round of the regular season, the in-form Hawks needed to beat the Kangaroos on Saturday to secure a spot in the top eight.
They did it in style, with Dylan Moore kicking four goals and Nick Watson, Connor Macdonald and Mabior Chol kicking three each in the 26.14 (170) to 7.4 (46) romp.
The Hawks were 0-5 to begin the season but have surged into their first finals campaign since 2018, winning 14 of their past 18 games.
Hawthorn piled on 10 goals in the final term for their biggest-ever win over North.
Massimo D’Ambrosio (31 disposals, two goals) and Jai Newcombe (35 possessions, 10 clearances) were among their best.
Hawks midfielder Conor Nash copped a cork to the leg and was substituted out in the third quarter.
North Melbourne finish the year with just three wins and in the bottom two on the ladder for the fifth season in a row.
They could end up with the wooden spoon if last-placed Richmond beat Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon, and percentage isn’t in their favour.
The match was brought forward four hours bizarrely because of uncertainty around the power supply to University of Tasmania Stadium.
Power network workers in Tasmania have been taking industrial action and wouldn’t have restored electricity in the event of an outage.
In drizzly weather, the lights ended up being switched on for the entirety of the match.
The opening quarter was scrappy early before Hawthorn started to pull away for a 28-7 lead at the first break.
They kicked eight goals to three in the second, although the Kangaroos were able to stem the bleeding somewhat with the last two of the term.
North Melbourne’s Jackson Archer was substituted out at quarter time with a leg problem.
Jy Simpkin tried hard in a losing battle, kicking three goals for the first time in his career and picking up 25 touches.
AAP
