HAWTHORN has kept its top-four aspirationsvery much alive with an impressive 24-point win over the Brisbane Lions at theMCG on Saturday afternoon.
The Hawks followed up last week's 63-pointmauling of Essendon with another sterling performance in what was the battle ofthe big men in Lance 'Buddy' Franklin and Jonathan Brown.
Hawthorn won 17.13 (115) to 13.13 (91),with 'Buddy' booting five - three of which came in the second term when he wascalled upon to answer Brown's four-goal bag – while Jarryd Roughead finishedwith three.
It was the first time the Hawks have beatenthe Lions since round four, 2005, as well as the first time since rounds 12 and13 they have won two matches in a row.
Their win, however, may be soured by the lossof skipper Richie Vandenberg, with the courageous captain again battling with aknee complaint that saw him benched in the second term.
He did not return the field, although Rick Ladsonrecovered from a head wound he received in the first term to play out the game.
In what was a highly enjoyable second term,goals rained down across the hallowed surface of the 'G', with the two bigforwards responsible for all majors scored.
But it was the third term that ultimatelyset up the win for the Hawks, as they powered away to a 28-point lead at thefinal change after a seven goal to two quarter.
Luke Hodge was terrific while Brent Guerraplayed his second solid game in a row, and Sam Mitchell and Shane Crawford wereas busy as always through the middle.
Joel Smith upped his contribution in thethird term and was prolific in setting up the win,
Campbell Brown successfully minded JaredBrennan while Trent Croad – second term aside – kept Brown moderately quiet andtook a contender for mark of the year early in the final term.
The Hawks held an unlikely lead atquarter-time after Tim Boyle – in his second game back from a hamstring injury– slotted the goal that gave them a five-point advantage after the siren.
The second term opened with the Lionsregaining the lead, which they held for the entirety of the quarter despite theHawks kicking another after-the-siren special via Franklin.
Tempers spilled over after the goal and thesides engaged in a brief scuffle as they left the field, which sent the Auskickparticipants sprinting for cover on the sidelines.
Roughead opened the second half with agoal, and with Franklin and Boyle previously attracting the most attention fromthe Lions' defenders of Daniel Merrett, Joel Patfull and Jason Roe, coach LeighMatthews suddenly had someone else to contain.
The Lions continued to mix and match indefence, but the Hawks continued to cause them issues with their multi-prongedattacking structure – Roughead, Franklin, Dixon and Boyle all finding the ballup forward in the telling term.
The Lions' midfield supply was restrictedby an increased work rate by the Hawks, and the result left the visitors withonly two goals for the term and a 28-point deficit to chase with a quarterremaining.
The rain came down and the temperaturedropped in the fourth, which didn't help the Lions’ cause, but exciting LionRhan Hooper finally managed to translate his snazzy antics into a goal beforethe heavens opened.
The Hawks did enough to keep the Lions atbay, despite Brown snaring another and Cheynee Stiller booting his second asthe clock wound down.
Hawthorn now travels to Tasmania for its final home-away-from-homeencounter for the year when they host Port Adelaide at Aurora Stadium nextSunday.
HAWTHORN 4.3 7.4 14.8 17.13 (115)
BRISBANE LIONS 3.4 7.9 9.10 13.13 (91)
Goals
Hawthorn: L Franklin 5 B Dixon 3 J Roughead 3 L Hodge 2 C Bateman T Boyle B McGlynn C Young.
Brisbane Lions: J Brown 6 L Power 2 C Stiller 2 J Charman R Copeland R Hooper.
Best
Hawthorn: L Hodge S Mitchell J Lewis L Franklin G Birchall S Crawford C Brown.
Brisbane Lions: J Brown L Power J Adcock J Charman N Lappin C Begley.
Injuries
Hawthorn: Vandenberg (knee), Ladson (cuthead)
Brisbane Lions: Charman (finger)
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: B Allen S Wenn M Avon.
Official Crowd: 39,007 at MCG.
