Hawthorn Hawks Triumph Over GWS Giants in Thrilling Round 13 Clash at UTAS Stadium

The Hawthorn Hawks clinched a thrilling victory over the Greater Western Sydney Giants at UTAS Stadium in Round 13 of the 2024 AFL season. The final score stood at 85-79, with the Hawks narrowly edging out the Giants in a nail-biting finish. The atmosphere was electric as fans witnessed a game filled with twists, turns, and standout performances.

The first quarter saw an early exchange of behinds, with Dylan Moore, James Sicily, and Jack Ginnivan each contributing to the Hawks’ tally. However, it was the Giants who drew first blood with a goal from Xavier O’Halloran, followed by another from Jesse Hogan, giving them an early lead. Mabior Chol’s goal for the Hawks kept them within striking distance, but the Giants finished the quarter ahead, 13-9.

In the second quarter, the Giants began to pull away. James Peatling and Aaron Cadman each found the back of the net, extending the Giants’ lead. The Hawks responded with a goal from Jack Gunston, but the Giants’ relentless attack, including goals from Brent Daniels and another from Cadman, saw them stretch their lead to 38-19 by halftime. The Hawks struggled with accuracy, managing only behinds from Blake Hardwick, Dylan Moore, and Calsher Dear.

The third quarter was a different story. The Hawks came out firing with goals from Changkuoth Jiath, Calsher Dear, and Jack Gunston, quickly closing the gap. The Giants managed to keep their noses in front with goals from Toby Greene and Xavier O’Halloran, but the Hawks’ persistence paid off. Goals from Connor Macdonald and Mabior Chol brought the Hawks within one point of the Giants by the end of the quarter, 57-54.

The final quarter was a rollercoaster. Josh Weddle’s early goal gave the Hawks the lead, but O’Halloran’s back-to-back goals swung the momentum back to the Giants. Luke Breust and Connor Macdonald responded for the Hawks, and despite a late goal from Jake Riccardi for the Giants, it was Breust’s second goal that sealed the victory for the Hawks. The final whistle blew with the Hawks on top, 85-79.

Both teams showcased impressive statistics. The Hawks had 332 disposals, 200 kicks, and 132 handballs, while the Giants led in disposals with 348 and handballs with 154. The Giants dominated the hitouts with 47 compared to the Hawks’ 23. Both teams were evenly matched in free kicks, with 24 each, but the Hawks’ superior tackling (66 to the Giants’ 57) and marking (88 to the Giants’ 85) were crucial in their victory.

Star performers for the Hawks included Jack Gunston, who scored three goals and had seven disposals, and Luke Breust, who contributed two goals. Mabior Chol and Connor Macdonald also impressed with two goals each. On the Giants’ side, Xavier O’Halloran was a standout with four goals, and Lachie Whitfield led in disposals with 30.

Individually, James Worpel was a workhorse for the Hawks with 20 disposals, 11 kicks, and nine handballs, along with eight tackles. Will Day was another key contributor with 26 disposals and 10 tackles. For the Giants, Tom Green had a strong game with 26 disposals and five clearances, while Kieren Briggs dominated the ruck with 38 hitouts and 21 disposals.

In conclusion, the Hawks’ resilience and determination were on full display as they overcame a significant halftime deficit to secure a memorable victory. This win will boost their confidence as they look to build momentum in the latter half of the season. Meanwhile, the Giants will need to regroup and address their second-half fadeout as they aim to stay competitive in the race for the finals.