Hawks withstand spirited Storm challenge to move to 4-1

NOT for the first time this season, joint coach Travis Matheson has praised Eaglehawk’s ability to dig deep following a resilient win over Strathfieldsaye last Saturday.

A tough slog at Canterbury Park could have gone either way when the Hawks led by 17 points at three-quarter-time.

But a six-goal-to-three burst as the game opened up in the final term was just what the doctor ordered for the Hawks, who ran out 12.13 (85) to 6.13 (49) winners.

A well-earned win both propelled Eaglehawk into second spot on the ladder ahead of another tough challenge against Castlemaine and confined an injury-hit Storm to a 1-4 start.

Matheson was pleased to see his players work their way through a bit of a stalemate.

“In terms of a spectacle, it was probably an average game of football to watch – really contested – and for the first three quarters, scrappy and full of stoppages,” he said.

“It was only a little 15-minute period in the last quarter that the game opened up and we were able to open up a bit of a margin.

“It was a really hard-fought contest.

“We might have been a couple of goals up at three-quarter-time, but it didn’t feel that way.”

Matheson drew comparisons to the Hawks’ round four clash against Gisborne, when the game was again in the balance at three-quarter-time. Alas for Eaglehawk, it was the Bulldogs who seized the momentum.

An absolute key to the win was the performance of ruckman Brayden Frost, who continued his stellar start to the season with another impressive effort.

Co-coach Clayton Holmes (four goals) and Jack O’Shannessy (three) kept the scoreboard ticking over, while Billy Evans and Ben Thompson were their usual busy selves around the contest.

Matheson singled out Ethan Hanley for praise for his lockdown role on Cooper Jones.

Riley Wilson, Jake Moorehead and Sam Heavyside led the charge for the Storm.

Matheson said the Hawks could take plenty of encouragement out of their 4-1 start, but cautioned there were still plenty of big tests to come.

“With only eight teams in the comp, we are getting close to hitting the end of the first round already, which does feel a bit strange,” he said.

“Castlemaine this week lines up as a pretty big game for both clubs and then Sandhurst after that gives us a wrap on the first round.

“I’ve had a few looks at Castlemaine – they have some real high-end talent.

“They beat us down there last year, so it’s going to take a big performance to saddle up again and get a win.”

Matheson pinpointed greater efficiency by foot and hand as a priority against the Magpies.

“There was a couple of bad turnovers again, like the previous week, so we will look to sharpen that up,” he said.

At Dower Park, Golden Square broke through for its first win of the season, defeating Kangaroo Flat by 57 points.

Carson James and Xavier Carter, who booted three goals, led the charge for the Bulldogs, who will be hoping to carry the momentum into this Saturday’s clash against South Bendigo.

Round six will be headlined by the rematch of last year’s grand finalists Sandhurst and Gisborne at the QEO.

Round 5 recap:

Kangaroo Flat 5.8 (38) lost to Golden Square 13.17 (95); Eaglehawk 12.13 (85) def Strathfieldsaye 6.13 (49); South Bendigo 4.13 (37) lost to Sandhurst 17.12 (113) (played 10 May); Gisborne 11.13 (79) def Castlemaine 8.10 (58).

Round 6:

Sandhurst v Gisborne; Castlemaine v Eaglehawk; Kangaroo Flat v Strathfieldsaye; Golden Square v South Bendigo.