Mitchell masterclass in Hawks’ win
A MIDFIELD masterclass by a returning Tom Mitchell and a glimpse of Hawthorn’s customary brute force produced the Hawks’ second major upset of the season and ended their four-game losing streak at UTas Stadium on Sunday.
The lead changed nine times in the Launceston thriller – five times in the final term – as Hawthorn were strong enough for long enough to end Brisbane’s five-game winning streak with a five-point win.
Hawthorn kicked five lastquarter goals to break clear late, with big forward Mitch Lewis kicking two of his four goals late in the last.
Mitchell was superb in his return, with a game-high 36 possessions and nine clearances while the Hawks’ other goals came from Chad Wingard (three), Dylan Moore (two) and Sam Butler (two). Hawthorn remains the only side Brisbane has not beaten since 2020.
Brisbane was in control early with its second-best first quarter for the season but despite falling behind by 20 points 15 minutes in, Hawthorn surged back with five of the next six goals.
It continued early in the second when they kicked another three, including Sam Frost’s first for Hawthorn and his first major since round 9 2017, which gave the Hawks a nine-point advantage.
Hawthorn dominated stoppage clearances and even though they had half the inside 50s of Brisbane’s 20 for the second term, the Hawks kicked five goals from only 10 entries to lead by a point at halftime.
Brisbane jumped 22 points clear in the third term but Hawthorn came back to win.