Hawks End Roos' Perfect Season August 29th, 2011
Hawks 17. 7. (109)
def. Kangaroos 11. 7. (73)
For the second year in a row the Roos and Hawks met in Round 14 at Scarborough. These clubs have had polar opposite seasons, the Roos were enjoying an unbeaten season while the Hawks have been embarrassed twice by league whipping-boys Ottawa. With the Roos claiming they would struggle to field a side unless the game was moved to 9am, it was more than a little humorous to watch five players trot to the bench before the first bounce.
Dale “I Wear Boxers Under My Footy Shorts” Beesley was moved from his normal post in the backline to play in the ruck on Andrew Hogan - the best ruckman in the league this year. Stinger was outstanding given his new role and stopped the Roos from getting first use of the ball all day. Paul “Diddy Dirty Money” Price was dangerous early and getting plenty of service from the midfield of Nick “Top Deck” Shuttleworth, Mario “The Slayer” Pareja and Conor “DULLARD!” Dullard. A free-flowing first quarter ended Hawks 3.3 to Roos 3.4.
The second quarter is where the Hawks established their dominance, with Cody “Return Of The Yellow Boots” Royle, Fausto “The Proposal” Iannialice and Shane “Angry” Walsh mopping up everything across half-back. Fresh off the back of failing to establish the first Chexican Aussie Rules team for the International Cup, Chenry was creating problems with his speed and gathering plenty of the ball down forward. Iain “Sleeves” Crozier’s opponent wisely went no where near him with the threat of being struck down with poison ivy proving too much and Kevin “Jamie Mahy” Bacon was proving a handful on the other flank. Five goals to one for the quarter put the Hawks in a dominant position, yet the Hawks had been in this position many times this season only to see sizeable leads slip. At the half Hawks 8.5 to Roos 4.5.
Seemingly within a matter of minutes that four goal lead was whittled away and the Hawks were having an all-too-familiar bout of de ja vu. As the Roos drew level, the Hawks steadied the ship thanks to some great defensive efforts from Rhys “Fresh From The Shire” Harris. Just as the tide was turning back in the Hawks favour, Sean “Header” Dutton went down with a hamstring injury. Despite this setback, hard work from the whole squad had the Hawks re-establishing a three goal lead by the end of the quarter, a super effort considering heads could have dropped after the initial onslaught. Hawks 12.6 to Roos 9.6.
Down a man, Taylor “3 Hours Sleep” Matthew stepped up with the big defensive job on Bobby Sears, who was plucking marks from everywhere. Rather than using excuses, the Hawks completely buried the Roos in first five minutes of the fourth. Shawn “Kreeper” Keeper was literally everywhere in the last quarter with his trademark tackling and bumping proving annoying for the Roos defenders. Dutton returned heavily bandaged and stood almost motionless in the goal-square, somehow managing to kick a goal and have an assist off his face in the process. Ian “The Sich-uation” Radisich’s kick off the ground smashed into Dutt’s face and ricochet back onto Radish’s boot and through the goals. As Dutt’s bled from the face Radish gave one of the biggest goal celebrations you’ve ever seen. Nonetheless, the Hawks were up and aboot and and capped the game with five goals in the last quarter, ruining the Roos bid for an unbeaten season. Hawks 17.7 to Roos 11.7.
Best Players: D. Beesley, F. Iannialice, M. Pareja, P. Price, S. Walsh, C. Dullard
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