Seven’s heaven for Gunston in big Hawks win
Anna Harrington |
Evergreen veteran Jack Gunston has kicked seven goals, including his 600th AFL major, to lead Hawthorn to a thumping 93-point win over Essendon.
Fresh off signing a one-year contract extension to take him into an 18th season, the magnificent Gunston, 34, headlined a 19.18 (132) to 5.9 (39) smashing that tightened Hawthorn’s grip on a top-four berth.
Essendon defender Jordan Ridley was forced out in the second quarter with a foot injury – and Gunston put undersized defender Mason Redman to the sword.
The three-time premiership forward booted three goals in the second term then four in the third, with the MCG crowd of 42,509 erupting when he nailed his sixth goal for his 600th league major.
Gunston also became the VFL/AFL’s 37th greatest goalkicker and surpassed former teammate Luke Breust as Hawthorn’s seventh all-time greatest goal kicker.
Essendon were initially buoyed by their drought-breaking win over GWS last week, but Sam Mitchell’s Hawthorn – who still hope to add Suns spearhead Ben King to their loaded attack – broke away with six unanswered goals in the second quarter.
Midfielders Will Day (21 disposals, two goals), Jai Newcombe (28 disposals) and Josh Ward (32 disposals) and half-back Jarman Impey (37 disposals) were influential while Nick Watson jagged three goals.
Essendon had few winners around the ground, with Nate Caddy fighting his way to three goals.
Zach Merrett, who was desperate to get to Hawthorn last year and is expected to seek a trade again, was Essendon’s leading disposal winner with 21 touches plus nine tackles.
It was a horror day of injuries for second-last Essendon, currently in their head coach recruiting process, and interim boss Dean Solomon.
Injury-plagued Ridley, also expected to seek a trade at season’s end came off, while young gun Sullivan Robey was helped off with a right knee injury suffered in a tackle early in the third term.
The Bombers were hopeful Robey had only suffered a knee knock.
Archer Day-Wicks (right hip) limped off at the start of the final quarter.
Hawthorn’s day was soured by a first-quarter concussion to Mitch Lewis, who ran into the back of Day-Wicks when laying a tackle and clashed heads with the Bomber.
A dazed Lewis, who had blood streaming from his right eyebrow, received treatment and at one point dropped to one knee but was able to walk off.
Lewis, fresh off signing a four-year contract extension, will miss next Saturday’s clash with North Melbourne in Tasmania.
Essendon dug in initially but Gunston nabbed two goals in quick succession to set Hawthorn on their way early in the second quarter.
The Hawks never looked back from there, leading by 45 at halftime, then 74 at three-quarter time before kicking away again for their third straight win.
The Bombers host Adelaide at Marvel Stadium next Sunday.
AAP