Hawthorn are all but locked in for a September berth this season, downing a lacklustre Melbourne by 36 points on Saturday evening.
But it was all about Jack Gunston, who kicked a seven-goal haul for just the second time in his career to steer the Hawks home, winning 13.14 (92) to the Demons’ 8.8 (56).
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In the process, the 33-year-old officially registered his best-ever season in front of goal, with his home-and-away tally now up to 60 majors from 19 games.
His teammate Dylan Moore alongside rivals Harrison Petty and Jacob van Rooyen were the only other players to kick multiple goals, in what was ultimately a low-scoring affair.
The first of Moore’s goals was marred by a bizarre goal review controversy, which saw the star admit the ‘goal’ he kicked was touched — yet upon review, it was upheld as six points.
“All the Hawks already said it’s been touched – they’re setting up a zone,” 322-game great Nick Dal Santo said on commentary.
“This is where the honesty system should just come straight in. The player kicking the football says it’s touched.
“There’s an immediate concern with that – the players, both clubs, say it was touched.”
Four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis added: “Don’t waste your time (reviewing).”
“It’s called a goal so you need vision that shows definitively that it’s touched so that will be the challenge.”
Hawthorn goalkickers: Gunston 7, Moore 2, Watson, Dear, Breust, Macdonald
Melbourne goalkickers: Petty, van Rooyen 2, Oliver, Chandler, Langford, Pickett
Chaplin disappointed after thumping | 10:30
THE 3-2-1… (with Ben Cotton)
3. GUNSTON BAGS SEVEN GOALS TO CONTINUE INSANE, CAREER-BEST SEASON
Jack Gunston can’t be stopped right now.
While his long-time partner in crime Luke Breust is set to hang up the boots, Gunston is in career-best form. The gun forward added an equal personal-best seven goals on Saturday to bring his season tally to 60 – good for second in the Coleman Medal.
It could’ve been an even bigger bag if not for his wayward 7.4 conversion.
That takes Gunston past his previous career-best of 58 goals in 2014 during the height of Hawthorn’s golden run in an insane feat after he appeared down and out a couple of years ago.
He’s now likely to add a second All-Australian blazer to his resume some seven years between drinks.
The 33-year old looked on from the first quarter, where he kicked two goals. And by half-time, Gunston had career-high six marks inside in the first half to go with 3.3 from nine disposals.
Hawks legend and former teammate Jordan Lewis highlighted the finesse of Gunston’s moving patterns in what sets him apart.
“That’s a good game – let alone a good half,“ Lewis said at half-time.
“He has been the recipient of a lot of the work that’s been done further up the field and there hasn’t been much pressure from Melbourne on transition.
“His movement forward of the ball allows him to get in positions where he’s an option. He catches the eye of the kicker and is one of those forwards who never stands still.”
2. HAWKS DO DAMAGE EARLY AS TOP FOUR ALIVE
The Hawks were firing on all cylinders, particularly in the first half, in a dominant display on both sides of the ball as they effectively locked in a second-straight finals appearance. And a top four berth is suddenly alive.
If there were any concerns going into the contest it could be a danger game against a Demons side with a pressure release after Simon Goodwin’s departure a fortnight ago, they were quickly put aside.
Hawthorn did most of its damage with a five-goal first quarter as Melbourne simply had no answers for the Hawks’ slick ball movement.
Sam Mitchell’s defence also held up superbly, with Hawks legend Jordan Lewis noting “both phases of their game are in good shape” in an encouraging performance.
“I love the way they applied themselves early. We spoke about the complacency piece. That would please Sam Mitchell so much from a maturity perspective that they had the ability and mental capacity to get to work,“ Saints great Nick Dal Santo said.
“It started particularly in the centre square bounce.”
It comes ahead of a final-round showdown with Brisbane at the Gabba, with a top four berth on the line for Mitchell’s men if they can handle the reigning premiers on their own turf.
The Hawks’ ball movement was a key feature, kicking four goals from their defensive half in the first half.
“Any time you come in to play the Hawks, you’ve got to be well equipped and well aware of the way they want to move the football,“ Dal Santo added.
“Particularly off their half back line. It’s one thing to know it, it’s another thing to be able to stop it. And the Dees just haven’t been able to stop it.
“They get you in multiple ways, they’ll stretch you across the ground. If you neglect that, they’ll lose the width. But if you overplay the outside, they slice you through the middle.
“Their ball use is exceptional, even in these conditions. They’ve been able to find those marks, repeat inside 50s. They are so damaging and so threatening in so many avenues.”
1. BREUST’S SPECIAL MOMENT AFTER RETIREMENT CALL
Luke Breust, take a bow.
The Hawks veteran, who announced his AFL retirement this week, produced a highlight moment with a goal on the run in the third term that brought the house down.
After coming on as the sub, Breust got on the end of a Hawks chain on the 50m arc as Hawks fans chanted his name around the MCG.
The veteran forward ran towards goal and nailed a trademark snap, before celebrating with arms in the air as the crowd erupted and he was mobbed by teammates.
“The champ’s arms are in the air! ‘Breust’ around the MCG! What a moment for this champion!,” Fox Footy caller Mark Howard exclaimed.
Even Sam Mitchell applauded from the bench along with other Hawks players and officials in a great tribute to the champion.
“It’s the only time I’ve seen Gunston stop leading for the day,” Hawks great Jordan Lewis quipped.
“How many times have we seen this? Seriously.”
Howard added: “Joy on every Hawthorn supporter’s face, players, the bench, the players.”
Breust will go down as one of the Hawks’ greatest ever players as one of the key contributors to their three-peat premiershp success last decade.
The 34-year old departs the game as a two-time All-Australian and five-time club leading goalkicker, having booted 553 majors across 307 games. And hopefully still a few to come!
It draws Breust level with his coach, Sam Mitchel, on 306 games, with only Leigh Matthews (332) and Michael Tuck (426) ahead on the all-time games played list for Hawthorn.
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