Blog log from R21 of 2024: Western Sydney vs Hawthorn

Hogan marks uncontested at the hotspot on a slow play from a Whitfield pass, with Cadman putting a block on Frost off the ball. First goal to GWS. (Q1 0:53)
Hogan roves a Cadman contest in the pocket 20m out but misses a grubber on the turn. (Q1 3:43)
Hawks can’t clear half back on the kick in, Green passes to Hogan who leaps in front of Frost to mark again 35m out in front, his set shot drifts to the right. (Q1 4:18)
Whitfield passes short to Greene 50m out on the flank who kicks across the face to the right. (Q1 7:20)
Hawthorn finally gets the ball past centre on the rebound, Moore gathers a kick to grass in the pocket and chooses to centre for Gunston 30m out on a slight angle, he goals. (Q1 8:16)
The Hawks boss the next bounce, D’Ambrosio passes over traffic to Moore 35m out in front who puts the Hawks in front with his first goal. (Q1 9:43)
After marking on outer wing, Moore passes to the pocket 25m out for Chol to mark and steer through another one for the Hawks. (Q1 11:53)
Meek gets a free in ruck at a ball up 40m out on a slight angle, slight jumper tug by Cadman but the ump always pays those. Meek’s shot is just left. (Q1 14:08)
Watson sharks a Ward handball in the pocket 25m out after a ball up and drop the knees to draw a high contact free on Perryman. Footy gods push his kick OOTF near side right. (Q1 16:08)
Amon’s rebound kick under pressure is straight to Whitfield who goes quickly to Jones 45m out on a slight angle. The set shot is touched on the mark and goes left anyway. (Q1 18:53)
Ward is pinged for insufficient intent 50m out on the flank, Worpel tries his luck but the wind pushes the kick near side right. (Q1 21:11)
Watson roves in the pocket 35m out, O’Halloran comes in hot and takes him over the shoulder, that free was there. Watson misses near side left. (Q1 23:32)
Amon draws two on the HFF and gives outside to Weddle who waddles around the boundary and has a lash from 45m… swerves in for a fine finish! (Q1 26:23)
Green runs and carries through the centre on a rebound, he feeds Jones to spot up Daniels 45m out in front but the set shot is tugged to the left. (Q1 28:37)
GWS had plenty of chances early in Q1 but had to shoot from long range and kept missing, Hawks’ chances have been much more gettable and they have converted. (Qtr Time)
Nash receives from Ward and centres from the pocket to the hotspot where Macdonald marks unopposed and kicks truly. (Q2 1:14)
Weddle is in position A to intercept at half back but Hogan leaps over the top to mark 35m out on a slight angle for his second goal. (Q2 9:04)
The Hawks try to run the ball from the last line but there are too many Giants, eventually Thomas snaps wide from 20m. (Q2 13:47)
After a 50m penalty against Greene on the wing under the stand rule, D’Ambrosio marks 40m out near the boundary. Tough angle but he slots the big goal! (Q2 19:41)
McMullin passes wide to the pocket for Jones to mark behind Frost 35m out. Jones tries a curling set shot which falls in! (Q2 21:32)
Ah, but the Edge shows a snick on the far right post so it’s reduced to a point. (Q2 21:58)
Chol plays on to advantage from a free to Watson on Taylor on outer wing and delivers a lovely touch pass to Meek 45m out on a slight angle. Long range shots here tough… poster. (Q2 24:24)
Whitfield gets mown down by Watson trying to run the ball out of defence, Day to Nash to Gunston who goals from the hotspot. Hawks building a lead! (Q2 25:29)
Greene lifts his team with a stoppage goal from 30m on the flank. (Q2 26:57)
Green fumbles at a stoppage near the Hawk hotspot, Bedford drags in the crumb and is pinged for HTB. Moore takes the free but hits the post. (Q2 31:15)
Most stats on this game are pretty close after a half of football, the main one is conversion which favours the Hawks markedly. Still time enough for GWS’s leaders to lift them. (Half Time)
Newcombe roves and runs inboard from a stoppage on outer wing but then gives wide to D’Ambrosio who slots the running goal from 45m on the flank! (Q3 1:05)
GWS rebounds through the corridor with Himmelberg involved twice including the pass to the hotspot where Hogan marks on a hard lead in front of Weddle for goal number three. (Q3 3:25)
GInnivan roves a Dear contest and tries a quick dribbler from 30m but that one rolls left. (Q3 7:06)
Greene passes to Cadman leading in front of Weddle 45m out near the boundary. Another tough set shot for the Giants at this end, no breeze… the #1 draft pick delivers! (Q3 10:14)
Peatling passes to O’Halloran who marks over Sicily 50m out on the flank. X’s set shot is straight but just too short, touched through on the line. (Q3 13:39)
Breust is fresh on the ground from the subs bench and passes from members wing to the pocket for Ginnivan 25m out, who misses. (Q3 14:20)
Weddle lopes around members wing and goes long inside 50 for Gunston to mark in front of Taylor 45m out on a slight angle. Now the Hawks’ turn for a long set shot… it’s good! (Q3 16:36)
Weddle gets a ruck free on Cadman 50m out on the flank, ump called a block as Cadman took his eyes off the footy in flight. The free kick is narrow to the left. (Q3 19:13)
Lack of Riccardi has hurt the Giants today, Cadman and Gruzewski can’t hit the logos and halve a contest which has ruined their ball movement. (Q3 21:47)
Day starts a counter attack from CHB, Moore passes to Chol to mark 40m out on the flank. Chol’s one wood is finishing, and he draws a lovely set shot from right to left for a goal. (Q3 23:25)
Hawthorn’s rebounds are flowing with increasing ease, Breust passes to Macdonald 50m out on a slight angle who doesn’t score. (Q3 26:25)
Moore wobbles a pressured snap across the face from 25m in the pocket. (Q3 26:47)
Sicily is pinged for late contact on Daniels after a mark on members wing, Daniels tries a screwing set shot from 25m on a slight angle but curls it too much, just a point. (Q3 28:24)
GWS are missing Coniglio and Kelly, and they are looking like Hawthorn did early in the season when they were missing Day. Peatling finding it tougher than he did against the Dees. (Q3 28:48)
Green has Peatling and Bedford alongside him as the A-rotation midfield, two defensive mids, putting too much pressure on him for offence. (Q3 29:21)
Greene marks a Daniels kick from the centre behind Sicily 25m out on the flank and curls in the first goal of Q4, on the end of a rebound up the guts. (Q4 0:54)
Ward passes to Jones to mark over D’Ambrosio at the hotspot for another one, Giants making a move! (Q4 4:21)
Macdonald is pinged for encroachment trying to stop Greene playing on on members wing, 50m penalty brings the mark to the hotspot for his third goal, GWS marching! (Q4 6:39)
Meek intercepts a clanger kick by Ash at CHF and passes short to Gunston at the hotspot, his set shot flirts with the left goalpost but falls in! (Q4 9:01)
Greene leaps in front of Hardwick to take a contested grab 45m out from an O’Halloran pass after a rebound around outer wing. His set shot is wide but short… Hogan marks! (Q4 12:09)
Mark confirmed after review, Hogan converts. Giants right in the game now, Hawthorn have some work to do to defend this lead and need to score themselves. (Q4 13:24)
Amon kicks long on a slow play to the pocket, Breust anticipates the crumb falling over the back with an early run, ball falls into his lap for a big goal! (Q4 15:29)
That goal came off the back of a 6-6-6 violation by Greene. (Q4 15:54)
Greene bobs about like a cork in the ocean in a pack 20m out in the pocket, gets a shot off but it takes a wicked off break past the right goalpost for a behind. (Q4 19:03)
Meek marks a Breust pass 55m out on the flank, he bombs very long but it floats wide right for a point. (Q4 20:32)
The Giants are zoning back to flood on defence trying to get the tsunami going on rebound, leaving the Hawks to kick across midfield with ease. Time ticking down… (Q4 21:54)
Meek is pinged for an arm chop on Daniels 50m out on a slight angle. Binga looks dubious at the distance, but then bangs through a sensational drop punt for a goal! (Q4 25:16)
4:31 to play and GWS are still in it. (Q4 25:55)
Daniels runs from the next bounce and bombs long, again Weddle is in position to intercept but again Hogan comes over the top to mark 20m out and goal! Kick in it, 3:40! (Q4 26:40)
Nash from the next bounce, Ash roves but his kick is to a contest and out for a throw in 30m out. (Q4 28:08)
ANother rebound for the Giants, huge pack assembles to spoil Hogan but Green is front and centre, his curling left-foot snap from 35m falls in! Giants hit the lead! (Q4 29:04)
Day starts a rebound up the centre, Buckley catches Sicily HTB to prevent an inside 50, huge play! (Q4 32:32)
Hogan hits the logos to take a crucial link mark and starts some tempo, Hawks aren’t manning up… (Q4 32:54)
Siren goes with Hawks out of gas, Giants repeat last year’s heartbreaker! (Q4 33:31)