A stellar third quarter saw Melbourne sweep to a 33-point lead, but they failed to score in the last as Hawthorn turned it on and kicked six unanswered majors, winning 0.11.3 (69) to 1.8.9 (66).
Jarryd Roughead starred for the under-strength Hawks who went into match missing ten premiership players from last year. He kicked five goals, including the match-winner with just five seconds remaining.
Hawhtorn skipper Sam Mitchell lead from the front with a game-high 28 disposals. Matthew Suckling saw a lot of it with 17 touches, Campbell Brown returned to defence and didn’t miss a beat, Brad Sewell (20) worked hard and Clinton Young (22) was good all day.
Brad Green roamed the ground to be Melbourne’s best on the day, kicking a goal while also taking saving marks deep in defence.
Brock McLean (25) made an impressive return from an ankle injury that kept him out of the last third of the 2008 season, while youngster Jake Spencer was promising in the ruck and around the ground.
Four injuries came out of the game with Hawks Michael Osborne (knee) and Chance Bateman (ankle) leaving the ground during the first half.
Melbourne suffered too with Austin Wonaeamirri injuring his right hamstring, while Dees skipper James McDonald was limping heavily before half time.
Reports will also cause some concern for both camps. Clinton Young went into the book for tunnelling Aaron Davey, and Paul Johnson was reported after colliding with Sam Mitchell.
It was Melbourne that burst out of the blocks in the first quarter, putting a couple of goals on the board before the Hawks scored. Matthew Bate, playing at full forward, soccered it off the deck in a goalmouth scramble, then Brad Green converted after marking on 45 metres.
Roughead slotted eye of the needle from 45 on the boundary, but then Melbourne got the next two to get the lead out to 19 points.
That brought the Hawks to life, with Cameron Stokes kicking from 45 after a beautiful pass from Bateman, and Roughead kicking another couple of rippers both from tight angles
Despite their good work, the Demons led by only five points at the break.
The second term saw 10 minutes pass without a score of any kind, and 17 minutes before a major was slotted.
When it came it was a beauty, with the Hawks turning on their trademark run to move the ball from full-back through the middle of the ground for Mark Williams to mark and kick truly from close range.
Two minutes later a super piece of desperation from Matthew Whelan saw him dive in front of Hawks hardman Campbell Brown. The ball spilled for Aaron Davey who passed to Bate, whose third goal reinstated the Demons’ five-point buffer.
The Dees showed plenty of promise in the third quarter, kicking the only four majors of the term, with three regular goals topped by a supergoal from Clint Bartram – created by a Miller tackle – taking the Demons to a seemingly impregnable 33-point lead.
But their inability to score in the final term cost the Demons dearly, with the premiers showing their class to snatch the win.
The Hawks will play Carlton in the semi-finals, while Melbourne heads off to play in the NAB Challenge series.
Hawthorn 0.4.0 0.5.1 0.5.2 0.11.3 (69)
Melbourne 0.4.5 0.5.6 1.8.8 1.8.9 (66)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Nine-point goals: - Goals: Roughead 5, Stokes 2, Williams 2, Morton, Dew
Melbourne: Nine-point goals: Bartram Goals: Bate 4, Green, Bartram, Johnson, McLean
BEST
Hawthorn: Roughead, Mitchell, Dew, Sewell, Young, Suckling
Melbourne: Green, Bate, McLean, Morton
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Michael Osborne (knee), Chance Bateman (ankle)
Melbourne: Austin Wonaeamirri (hamstring), James McDonald (leg)
REPORTS
Hawthorn: Clinton Young for rough contact on Aaron Davey in the first quarter
Melbourne: Paul Johnson for striking Sam Mitchell in the first quarter
Dream Team watch – Jarryd Roughead scored 75 Toyota AFL Dream Team points in Hawthorn’s win over Melbourne in round one of the 2009 NAB Cup.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
