Improved Hawks lose no admirers in narrow loss
When it comes to an average game of footy, there’s usually a script many people expect the teams to follow.
In this case on a sunny day at Drouin, the script said that Moe was going to bounce back from their first loss of the year and easily handle a young Drouin team that would be overwhelmed by the Lions’ class.
Clearly, nobody told Drouin that this was the case.
And while the Hawks were unable to claim the win in the end, they certainly lost no admirers in their 11.7 (73) to 12.11 (83) loss.
Despite the fact that this was a game between the team on the bottom of the ladder and the team in second position, you wouldn’t have known it as the momentum swung wildly between the two teams.
In the end, it took a strong five goal to none effort in the final quarter from Moe to claim victory, and even then they were made to fight for it.
Timothy Hancock was a standout in Drouin’s defence, helping to keep the Lions’ star goalkicker Harry Pepper relatively quiet.
Aden Quirk and Tom Barr were strong through the middle, while the class of Gippsland Power player Jacob Konstanty instantly stood out.
Campbell Jolly kicked three goals for the home side, while Matthew Barrand kicked four for the Lions.
The game started in extremely positive fashion for Drouin, who consistently found ways to clear the Moe defence and find goals out the back.
Tom Johnstone kicked two in the first quarter as the Hawks found themselves three goals up at quarter time, their speed seriously stretching Moe’s midfield.
After Jolly kicked the first of the second term following a dropped Moe mark, suddenly the Hawks were 25 points up and looking the goods.
From there though, Moe stepped up their intensity and, after a couple of goals to Gippsland Power youngster Bailey Humphrey, the margin had been trimmed to two goals.
A late snap by Kye Quirk ensured that Drouin would retain their solid lead going into half time, despite Moe working their way into the game.
The Lions’ lack of a tall target in their forward line had been their kryptonite in their one loss and had become an issue again, as they were unable to exploit the smaller Drouin backline in the same way Bairnsdale had a week prior.
The third quarter saw a rejuvenated Moe team, who had clearly been given a message to up their intensity.
The Lions’ tackle pressure clearly stepped up a notch, while their ball use found significant improvement, particularly as they started to hit targets on the lead inside 50 to compensate for their lack of a big body in the forward line.
Three Moe goals in a row, including two to Riley Baldi, gave the Lions the lead, and they really could have run away with the match if not for some poor goalkicking.
Hawks player Kye Quirk also had a premature end to his game, having suffered a dislocated finger in a blow to the Drouin forward line.
Drouin would strike back, however, after a beautiful end to end passage saw them transfer the ball all the way from full back into an open goal.
It was at this point that some of the Moe players lost their discipline as their frustration with how the game was panning out boiled over.
A clash broke out at Moe’s half forward line, as players from both sides ran in to fly the flag for their teammates.
The umpires, meanwhile, had paid a free kick to Drouin, who quickly exploited the fact that most of the Moe defence were involved in the scuffle to run the ball in for a simple goal.
A double 50-metre penalty immediately afterwards, paid against Moe for continuing to try and fight, gave Drouin yet another goal as they took a three-goal lead into three quarter time and an upset was very much on the cards.
The final term, however, saw the ball living in Moe’s forward half for most of the quarter as Drouin desperately tried to hold on. But after Baldi slotted his third goal on the run from the boundary line, Moe had retaken the lead.
Drouin had a precious few chances to retake the lead but just couldn’t find a way, the final siren sounding as Moe’s Matthew Barrand was lining up for goal with the Lions four points up.
A 50-metre penalty paid after the siren ensured he would kick the goal, the final margin standing at 10 points.
Regardless of the loss, the game showed just how much the young Hawks have improved in just a few short weeks, as the poor showings in their first couple of matches appear a distant memory.
With their youth now truly coming through, Drouin will present a danger game to most sides they come up against for the rest of the season.
Moe, meanwhile, showed their depth and maturity in the win as they narrowly avoided an upset loss, though they will likely want to come out stronger next week when they face the undefeated Leongatha.
Timothy Hancock, Aden Quirk, Tom Barr, Jack Fraser, Jacob Konstanty and Harry Wans were best on for Drouin.
For Moe, Bailey Humphrey, Scott van Dyk, Riley Baldi, Matthew Barrand, James Blaser and Ben Daniher were the standout performers.