Gallant Drouin unable to match Morwell
Late in the first quarter against Morwell, Drouin were seriously pressing their case, generating inside 50s and seemingly potential scoring shots without being able to get the ball through the big sticks.
Then, Morwell shot their way all the way from full back to the other end's goal square within 30 seconds, thumping through a goal from close range.
This was the story of the day for the Hawks, who showed some of their most positive patches of play early without truly finding the reward on the scoreboard. They were then punished for it later on by a team with aspirations of playing finals.
In the end, the size of the 11.10 (76) to 20.8 (128) loss probably didn't quite do justice to Drouin, who matched their opponents well for much of the day before running out of legs in the final term.
They were certainly feeling the support of the home crowd. When the Hawks ran out onto the ground and completed their pre-game training drills, they were accompanied by the under 10s team, who were more than happy to show their strong vocal support from the side-lines throughout the match.
With both teams more than happy to run and carry with the football, it was certainly an entertaining game, played at a frenetic pace. At times, it more resembled a game of table tennis, such was the speed with which the ball was often shooting from end to end.
After conceding the first two goals of the match, the Hawks were able to strike back through two goals in a row to Aden Quirk. Quirk would eventually finish the game with three goals to be his side's only multiple goal scorer.
Up the other end, playing coach Jordan Kingi was putting on a clinic with his intercepting, constantly blocking the Tigers' forward forays. Jarrod Marshall was continuing his excellent form through the middle, ably assisted by Seth Calway.
Despite being well beaten in the clearances, particularly from the centre, Drouin's ability to generate turnovers and rebound was making them look dangerous. After young gun Jacob Konstanty goaled, they found the lead.
Konstanty, despite missing some relatively simple set shots, showed plenty of his talents as he displayed exactly why he has been invited to the AFL Draft Combine in October. Morwell, however, would find two more goals out the back to take the quarter time lead.
Goals out the back have been a major issue for Drouin, and they once again reared their head here as the Morwell forwards too often caught their opponents pushing too high up the field.
The second term saw the Hawks have multiple opportunities to press their case. While they were generating plenty of inside 50s, some wayward kicking in front of goal cursed them to remain in arrears.
The Tigers, meanwhile, looked in some trouble whenever the Hawks' pressure was strong. But, whenever they found space, they began to look seriously threatening.
On more than one occasion, too much space was afforded to Brandon McDonald and Cody Macdonald. Unlike the Hawks, they weren't missing their chances. It meant that, despite some periods of serious dominance around the ground, Drouin found themselves 16 points down at the main break.
The third term was a free-wheeling scoring extravaganza, as both sides took turns hitting the scoreboard. The work of Burkely Macfarlane and Boyd Bailey was paying dividends in the middle as the Tigers continued to dominate the clearances, with plenty of credit going to mobile ruck Tristen Waack as well.
The Hawks continued to counterpunch, and though they were now finding the big sticks, they were unable to get the margin under 20 points. Every time they asked the question, Morwell had the answers.
Down 20 going into the final term, Jordan Kingi urged his troops to do it for the kids watching and still cheering their hearts out. It wasn't to be though, as five quick goals to begin the fourth term had the Tigers too far in front for any sort of comeback.
The win has Morwell still in the finals race, though faintly. They remain even with fifthplaced Maffra on points, but their much weaker percentage means they'll need to win against Sale at home next week and count on the Eagles losing. Sale's current six-game win streak will make it a very difficult prospect, but as far as the Tigers are concerned their season still has a pulse.
Drouin will now look to finish their season well next week. However, given they face an away trip to play the unbeaten Leongatha, it looks likely they will be consigned to a wooden spoon finish, with just the two wins.
The first year of a rebuild was always going to be difficult, but the Hawks have shown enough signs to suggest that under incoming coach Brent Clinnick there are reasons to hope and believe 2023 will be a better one.