Eagles v Hawks, snippets
Turning Point: There wasn't one really in this contest. The Eagles led by seven points during the first five minutes but after Hawthorn took the lead at the ten minute mark of the first quarter it was never headed. The Eagles certainly tried hard in this match and there were some fierce tackles from both sides all over the ground, but West Coasts' youngsters lacked the poise and decision-making ability of the more seasoned Hawks, who underlined their Premiership capabilities with a nine-goal third quarter where Buddy Franklin only contributed one major.
What a Goal: Eagles youngster Ryan Davis isn't a known goal scorer but in a bleak third quarter, he happily accepted a rapid-fire handpass from Chad Fletcher and snapped truly from an awkward position, with the ball simply bouncing the right way through the forward line and avoiding a Hawthorn defender's desperate lunge on the line.
Star Man: He wasn't the best on the ground but the sentimental vote goes to retiring 228-game veteran Michael Braun. Eagles coach John Worsfold said Braun had been hobbling throughout the week he was that sore, but he prepared his body for one last roll of the dice and produced a typically rugged 23 touches through the middle along with a superb diving tackle in the last five minutes that brought the Subiaco crowd to their feet.
Buddy v the Glass Man: Eagles skipper Darren Glass took the honours in this one. Buddy may have kicked 4.5 (earning this reporter an extra sausage roll for winning the press box sweep on how much he'd kick) but Glass took the honours in this encounter. A clearly frustrated Franklin didn't have a touch until the 20 minute mark of the first term before adding two goals before quarter-time. Buddy earned his third through a free kick and a 50m penalty that gave him a shot from the goal square, while the fourth was a ripper as he produced a beautifully swerving left-footed shot from 40 metres out on his non-preferred side. But Franklin was obviously thinking of getting the ton in front of his home-state crowd and was clearly distracted, while Glass produced his best performance of the year.
Unsung Hero: Brent Guerra produced a superb game running off half-back. In most Hawthorn matches Luke Hodge sits at half-back and directs the play through his superb disposal skills, but in Hodge's absence, Guerra did the job today, earning 32 touches which included four inside 50s and nine rebound 50s.