Updated ,first published
Hawthorn overcame the slippery conditions and a spirited GWS fightback to clinch a hard-earned victory on a bitterly cold Friday night at the MCG, but all eyes will quickly turn to superstar forward Nick Watson, who didn’t return after the main break due to a hamstring issue.
The Hawks were never able to completely shake the Giants, but they always appeared to have an extra gear when the contest demanded it. Even as momentum threatened to swing despite the visitors’ casualty ward growing, Sam Mitchell’s side consistently found the answers and all but ended the season of the battered and bruised Giants outfit.
The game took a dramatic turn in the second term when the Giants were dealt a pair of injury blows within minutes of each other. Livewire forward Brent Daniels limped from the field with a calf injury, before young key forward Max Gruzewski suffered a dislocated patella, leaving Adam Kingsley’s side desperately short of rotations and key personnel.
The Hawks lost their own game-breaker at half-time.
Watson had been the most influential player on the ground through the opening two quarters, lighting up the contest with his speed, pressure and creativity around goal. But the exciting small forward did not return after half-time because of hamstring tightness.
But Mitchell quickly poured cold water on any fears surrounding their superstar small forward.
“There was no concern about it going into the game,” Mitchell said, despite Watson telling Fox Footy at half-time that he hadn’t trained at all during the week.
“He was still a bit tight and sore from last week, I think, but there was no concern about it.
“When you play at the level that he does and the speed he does, I thought it was a smart call [to remove him at half-time].”
Without Watson, the Hawks leaned on the strength of their midfield, and once again it was the stars who delivered.
Jai Newcombe and Will Day controlled the game around stoppage, repeatedly driving the Hawks forward and ensuring the Giants were forced to spend long periods defending. When GWS threatened to close the gap, it was Newcombe’s contest work and Day’s class with ball in hand that steadied the home side.
They were well-supported by Cam Mackenzie, who produced one of the finest performances of his young career. The emerging midfielder was composed in traffic, used the ball efficiently and continually linked Hawthorn’s defensive and attacking chains in a polished four-quarter display.
“I think he was the highest pressure player on the ground,” Mitchell said glowingly of Mackenzie.
“The intensity with which he played in a game where it was hard to keep intensity, I was super impressed.”
To the Giants’ credit, they refused to concede, despite the mounting setbacks. Finn Callaghan was outstanding, carrying much of the midfield responsibility and repeatedly willing his side back into the contest with his powerful running and clean ball use. His performance ensured the margin remained within striking distance deep into the second half, but GWS ultimately lacked the polish and manpower to complete the comeback.
But the GWS coach was far from impressed; savaging his senior midfield group after the game. The Giants’ engine room lost clearances 54-30 and kicked only one goal to Hawthorn’s 10 from stoppage.
“Incredibly disappointing. We got dominated at stoppage … in fact, we were obliterated. That was clearly our biggest issue,” Kingsley said.
He refused to use the Giants growing injury list (15 players) as an excuse.
“Callaghan, Oliver, Daniels, Coniglio … it wasn’t [good] tonight. It wasn’t last week, either.”
The out-of-contract and much-talked-about Toby Greene was at his brilliant, angry best at times inside forward 50, finishing with 24 disposals and two goals.
The Hawks were not at their brilliant best, but they were efficient, disciplined and, for most of the night, simply looked the better side. On an icy evening in a game that never threatened to become a classic, Hawthorn banked another important four premiership points, while the Giants were left to lament both the result and an injury list that continues to grow.
Sam McClure is an award-winning AFL journalist and broadcaster.Connect via X or email.
