Collingwood are in danger of missing the top four after a ruthless and efficient Hawthorn dismantled them in a Thursday night fizzer at the MCG.
The 64-point win gives the Hawks a tight hold on a finals spot and suggests they will be a dangerous proposition in September as their good players find form.
Jordan De Goey of the Magpies is tackled by Karl Amon of the Hawks.Credit: Getty Images
By contrast, Collingwood have now lost four of the past five matches and look a pale imitation of the top of the table team which was cruising towards a top four spot.
The 46-points was their worst score for the season and the biggest loss under Collingwood coach Craig McRae in Steele Sidebottom’s 350th match.
They laid just 42 tackles.
The Magpies made a terrible start with Jeremy Howe knocked out cold just 90 seconds into the match when he clashed heads with Hawks midfielder Jai Newcombe in a nasty accident that occurred as both players attacked a loose ball.
Howe was taken to hospital and his absence was felt while Newcombe passed a concussion test as the Hawks made a jump on the scoreboard with two early goals to Nick Watson after terrible mistakes from Darcy Moore and Billy Frampton gifted him the ball inside 50.
The goals came after the strange decision from McRae to start Nick Daicos on the bench with the Hawks not translating their momentum to the scoreboard.
They returned to dominate the second quarter as Newcombe taking control of the midfield.It was in that period of the match Hawthorn took control of the game starting a run of seven unanswered goals to stretch the lead past 50 points early in the third quarter.
Mitch Lewis of the Hawks competes for the mark.Credit: Getty Images
They were winning clearance and spreading harder and faster than Collingwood to put the ball in the hands of their four talls, Mabior Chol, Calsher Dear, Jack Gunston and Mitch Lewis kicking at least one goal each in the first half.
Ruckman Lloyd Meek chimed in to kick a career best three goals pushing forward to keep Darcy Cameron accountable. Gunston finished with four goals.
The Magpies lost their mojo under the Hawks fierce pressure and started giving the ball back to the Hawks. If they didn’t give it back, they missed handballs or made the wrong decision.
The run of Jarman Impey and precision kicking of Karl Amon opened up the Magpies defence while James Sicily dominated the air.
Collingwood’s season is now officially in quicksand with the Crows in Adelaide looming as the Hawks look to be timing their run perfectly.
