Alastair Clarkson’s farewell tour has toppled some other AFL contender with Hawthorn upsetting the finals-certain Western Bulldogs by 27 points.
The Hawks managed most of Saturday’s dour contest in Launceston, rather than a immediate Bulldogs surge in the third quarter, to rack up three straight wins for the first time since 2019.
After leading by 14 points on the final shatter, 14th-placed Hawthorn purchased even better as they kept the Bulldogs objective-less in the closing quarter to prevail 9.10 (64) to five.7 (37) in one of many boilovers of the season.
In a hiss for the Bulldogs, it used to be the first time all season they occupy dropped consecutive games, supreme a fortnight forward of the finals begin.
The Bulldogs were rocked pre-recreation by the withdrawal of defender Ryan Gardner, who used to be barred from entering Tasmania after attending a COVID-19 publicity space.
Hawthorn had their maintain tiring trade, with huge title midfielder Jaeger O’Meara out resulting from knee soreness.
But even with out O’Meara, the Hawks continued their crimson-sizzling maintain since Clarkson’s exit from the club used to be introduced forward by 12 months after wins against Brisbane and Collingwood.
Daniel Howe, who has been in-and-out of the seniors since being drafted in 2014, produced a profession-supreme recreation with 34 possessions and a objective.
Hawthorn dominated the Bulldogs in most areas, winning the inside-50 count 51-35.
Hawks ruckmen Jon Ceglar and Ben McEvoy destroyed Bulldogs mountainous man Tim English, producing a lopsided 55-15 hit-out count.
Luke Beveridge’s team looked directionless up forward with out huge title Josh Bruce, who damage his knee tiring in closing week’s defeat to Essendon.
The Bulldogs must defeat Port Adelaide subsequent week to accurate their high-four put, while the Hawks will witness to ship Clarkson and retiring conventional Shaun Burgoyne off on a high when they face Richmond.
