FOUR goals to Jack Gunston in his 100th game have helped premiers Hawthorn to a 72-point drubbing of the Brisbane Lions on Saturday.
The 21.8 (134) to 9.8 (62) victory was set up by a 10-goal second quarter, which took the Hawks to the main break with a 34-point lead at Launceston's Aurora Stadium.
Gunston was valuable in attack throughout the free-flowing game and found good support.
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Along with standout efforts from ever-reliable forward Jarryd Roughead, who finished with three goals and 30 disposals, and Liam Shiels (34 disposals), the Hawks didn't suffer from the absence of skipper Luke Hodge (suspension) and Sam Mitchell (illness).
The victory keeps Hawthorn in third place on the ladder, while the Lions remain rooted to the bottom with one match remaining.
It was a quick-fire start for the Hawks with Matthew Suckling kicking a goal in the opening 30 seconds on the first play of the day.
But the Lions appeared determined not to let the favourites run away early and quickly replied.
Pearce Hanley was on the end of a nice chain of possessions for the Lions, and more goals came from Luke McGuane, Jed Adcock and skipper Tom Rockliff.
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The Hawks seemed stifled and the Lions went to the first break 15 points ahead.
Indeed it was to be a short-lived lead for the Lions, with the Hawks’ 10 goals including an impressive Isaac Smith bomb from outside 50.
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After displaying early confidence, the Lions lost their rhythm, giving away possession through repeated errors as Hawthorn dominated.
The Hawks shared the spoils with 12 players kicking goals, including James Frawley who finished with three.
The Hawks have unearthed another goal kicker! #AFLHawksLions http://t.co/xbZgOKZfYr
— AFL (@AFL) August 29, 2015
“We like to have the flexibility of Frawley being able to swing from one end of the ground to the other,” Clarkson said.
“He got good exposure down there, kicked three, and was another tall target for us that made us pretty competitive in the air in the front part of the ground.”
For the Lions, skipper Rockliff was the standout, with a first-quarter goal alongside 45 disposals earning praise from coach Justin Leppitsch.
“He (Rockliff) was very good, particularly in that first quarter (he) got us away. We probably didn’t have enough contributors to follow him.”
Stefan Martin had 40 hit-outs while McGuane and Adcock finished with two goals each.
Hawthorn's tenth 2nd quarter goal is a gift for Gunston #AFLHawksLions http://t.co/pe8PhhTuds
— AFL (@AFL) August 29, 2015
HAWTHORN 1.3 11.4 15.5 21.8 (134)
BRISBANE LIONS 4.2 5.6 8.8 9.8 (62)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Gunston 4, Roughead 3, Frawley 3, Suckling 2, Sicily 2, Burgoyne, Hill, Smith, Shiels, Rioli, Hale, McEvoy
Brisbane Lions: McGuane 2, Adcock 2, Green 2, Rockliff, Hanley, Robinson
BEST
Hawthorn: Shiels, Gunston, Lewis, Roughead, Hill
Brisbane Lions: Robinson, Rockliff, Martin, Christensen, Zorko
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Brisbane Lions: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Billy Hartung replaced Isaac Smith in the third quarter
Brisbane Lions: Liam Dawson replaced Justin Clarke in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Chris Kamolins, David Harris, Troy Pannell
Official crowd: 11,731 at Aurora Stadium