Jack Gunston’s seven-goal haul helps book Hawthorn’s place in AFL finals

Gunston further pressed his claims for a second All-Australian blazer as he helped himself to seven majors from his 14 disposals and 10 marks in another vintage performance.

Remarkably, in his 16th season, he now has a personal best 60 goals with at least two games still to play, given the Hawks have guaranteed their place in September.

In his first 271 games, he never managed to kick seven majors in a game, yet he has now achieved that feat twice in his past eight matches.

He absolutely killed Steven May in the first quarter with 2.2 from seven touches (six kicks) and five marks (one contested), forcing Melbourne to make the change and put Blake Howes on him.

But it barely curtailed the 33-year-old’s influence. Late in the third quarter he was doubling Melbourne for marks inside 50 (7-3) and in the final quarter he was leading them by 13 points on his own, 7.4 (46) to 5.3 (33), as the margin blew out to 56 points at one point.

“To be, I would say, a lock for the All-Australian side, I think it’s a pretty special time for him as a 33-year-old,” Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said post match.

“At the start of the season, we looked at Jack and said his major role, and the thing we’d rely on with Jack, is his influence off the field.

“So whatever he can produce on the field is a bonus and that’s great and we’ll take whatever games that he plays. If he plays five or 10 or 20, that’s great, but, realistically, his value to the team is going to be what he does off field in the coaching.

“What he’s been able to do on the field is probably beyond most of our thoughts and dreams of what it would’ve been, but certainly we want to get out of our players’ way in putting ceilings on them.

“Whatever they can achieve, give them the freedom to do it and he obviously he believes he’s got great footy in front of him and (we’re) not going to get in his way.”

The 13.14 (92) to 8.8 (56) result has provisionally moved the Hawks up to fifth and they could move up to fourth by the end of the round if Adelaide beat Collingwood by a big enough margin on Saturday night.

Hawthorn have now won eight of their last 10 games to be one of the form teams in the league, and they have set up a blockbuster clash with the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba in the final round next week with the winner to clinch an all-important top-four spot.

The Demons were found wanting defensively as the Hawks kicked 13 goals from 49 inside 50s (27 per cent), and while there might be a new coach in charge for Melbourne, they suffered from the same old forward issues, managing only eight majors from 56 entries (14 per cent).

MAGNIFICENT MOORE

Dylan Moore was crucial to the result with 32 disposals, nine marks and two goals, Jai Newcombe was instrumental with 21 touches (10 contested) and five tackles in the first three quarters and Jarman Impey was industrious as ever with 29 touches and six marks. Max Gawn was Melbourne’s best with 27 disposals (13 contested), six marks, 36 hitouts and five clearances.

HAWKS’ HOT START

Hawthorn made a blistering start with seven of the first eight goals to open up a 40-point lead in the second quarter and effectively end the contest.

Their ball use going inside 50 was much more damaging than Melbourne’s as they lowered their eyes and were prepared to take the extra kick before picking an option with beautiful foot skills.

The Hawks also effectively stymied the Demons, by taking the first five intercept marks, and controlled the ball, as they enjoyed sizeable advantages in disposals (103-77) and marks (32-9) in the first term.

Melbourne managed to stop the bleeding to a degree, and got back within 28 points early in the third stanza, but regular transmission resumed thereafter as the Hawks kicked six of the next eight majors.

BREUST STEALS THE SHOW

The loudest noise of the day came midway through the third quarter when Connor Macdonald found Luke Breust all by himself on the 50m line and the retiring triple premiership superstar ran to 40m out and snapped truly, prompting deafening calls of “Brooooooooooost” from the Hawthorn faithful.

SCORE REVIEW BLUE

The first goal of the game came about in somewhat controversial circumstances when Moore’s snap over his shoulder after only 45 seconds appeared as though it was touched by Melbourne’s Trent Rivers. The TV replay seemed to show Rivers’ finger was slightly bent back, but to no avail.

Scoreboard

HAWTHORN 5.3, 7.7, 10.10, 13.14 (92)

MELBOURNE 1.0, 2.3, 4.3, 8.8 (56)

RONNY LERNER’S BEST

Hawks: Gunston, Moore, Newcombe, Impey, Ward, Ginnivan, Hardwick.

Demons: Gawn, Oliver, Salem, Bowey, Langdon, Petracca.

GOALS

Hawks: Gunston 7, Moore 2, Watson, Dear, Breust, C.Macdonald.

Demons: Petty 2, van Rooyen 2, Oliver, Chandler, Langford, Pickett.

UMPIRES Toner, Wallace, Rodger, McGinness.

53,871 at the MCG

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

RONNY LERNER’S VOTES

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Matthew Forrest

3 Jack Gunston (HAW)

2 Dylan Moore (HAW)

1 Max Gawn (MELB)

Originally published as Jack Gunston’s seven-goal haul helps book Hawthorn’s place in AFL finals