Nick Watson kicked an equal career-best five goals to help Hawthorn secure a 16-point AFL win over North Melbourne in Launceston, keeping the Hawks firmly in the hunt for a top-two finish. The final score was Hawthorn 14.15 (99) to North Melbourne 12.11 (83).
Hawks survive late Kangaroos rally
The Hawks trailed by one point at the final change and faced a North Melbourne side desperate for a win to boost their finals hopes. Hawthorn did enough to hold on, with Mabior Chol kicking a crucial goal late in the game. With the Hawks ahead by 11 and less than six minutes remaining, Chol earned a free kick with a tackle and converted from roughly 50 metres out near the boundary line.
North Melbourne cut the deficit to 10 points with under three minutes left thanks to Harry Sheezel, but the Kangaroos were left to rue several key misses in the fourth quarter.
Kangaroos coach laments missed chances
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson pointed to two costly misses in the final term. “Finn O’Sullivan at the 20-minute mark of the last quarter, snaps, should be a goal,” he said. “Jack Darling takes a mark 30m out last quarter, two goals down, should be a goal. We’re competing and we’re getting closer to some of those sides but it also tells us that we’ve got a way to go. At AFL level those shots and opportunities should be executed.”
The Kangaroos have now lost five consecutive games and sit 13th on the ladder.
Watson fires in Coleman race
Watson’s haul takes him to 52 goals for the season, putting him firmly in contention for the Coleman Medal. Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell praised the young forward. “Every week he gets a fair bit of attention and for a player so young he works his way through it really well,” Mitchell said. “It’s very difficult to be consistent. He was really important.”
Jai Newcombe was also influential for the Hawks, collecting a game-high 34 disposals, 12 clearances and one goal assist.
Hawks eye top-two spot
Hawthorn sit third, just two points behind Sydney, and have won four straight ahead of a blockbuster clash with reigning premiers Brisbane on Friday.
Will Day opened the scoring for Hawthorn before North Melbourne kicked four consecutive goals to lead 26-9 at the first break. Nick Larkey, who has struggled with accuracy recently, missed his first shot but converted his second. Zac Banch added another from the goal square late in the first quarter.
Watson came alive in the second term, kicking three goals in a row, including two in 60 seconds, after managing just one touch in the first quarter. The lead changed hands several times before a behind after the halftime siren to Chol levelled the scores at 46-46 at the main break.
Watson added two more goals early in the third quarter, and Chol’s major broke the run of tit-for-tat scores as Hawthorn threatened to pull away. But the Kangaroos rallied, and Larkey’s second goal gave North Melbourne a 69-68 lead heading into the final quarter.