AFL 2024 round 12 LIVE updates: Rising Hawthorn claim another ...

Jack Gunston of the Hawks is congratulated by teammates after a goal.Credit: Getty Images

Jiath Reported Over Headbutting Incident

Hawthorn dasher Changkuoth Jiath was reported for headbutting Adelaide’s Mitchell Hinge in the second term of Saturday’s clash at the MCG.A frustrated Jiath, 24, had been in a short scuffle with Hinge before he lashed out and appeared to make contact with his opponent’s forehead.Hinge had had his hand in Jiath’s throat region.The Hawk’s reaction did not appear to be a major headbutt, but it did happen in front of umpire Cameron Dore, who was heard on Fox Footy’s broadcast microphone confirming a report had been made.If the incident is graded as intentional impact and low impact, Jiath, in only his third game of the season after returning to the side from injury, faces a one-week suspension.Skipper James Sicily put a comforting arm around Jiath, who had begun the game on a wing, as the Hawks made their way to the dressingroom at half-time, with a 29-point lead.

Jai Newcombe of the Hawks and Reilly O’Brien of the Crows compete for the footy.Credit: AFL Photos

Winless after their opening five games, the Hawks have emerged victorious in five of their past seven games, and have suddenly emerged as a potential finals threat.The manner in which they hunt the ball, ruthlessly attack through their half backs who push up the ground, and their overall recent dominance in scoring from clearances has Sam Mitchell’s men pushing for a top-eight berth, heading into next Saturday’s clash against Greater Western Sydney.Dylan Moore had a career-high five goals in the 27-point win against the Crows, and was arguably best afield, on a day the Hawks celebrated Jack Gunston’s 250th match and the tenth anniversary of their 2014 premiership, of which Gunston was a member.Will Day, the silky Peter Crimmins medallist, added to his fine fortnight of football through the midfield, while Jai Newcombe was typically robust. Jarman Impey and Jack Scrimshaw were superb across half-back, skipper James Sicily providing a calm hand in the final term. Josh Weddle’s creativity across half-back was also pivotal.Blake Hardwick, a restricted free agent in contract discussions with the Hawks, spent most of the afternoon as a forward, a role he was stand-out in as a junior, and has been given the chance to resume this season at the elite level.Gunston, fresh off four goals last week, added three in a match which will long live in his memory.Mitchell spent the final term on the boundary, as he had done last week when the Hawks took control against Brisbane, easing the memory of their last-quarter nightmare against Port Adelaide.

The Crows, already missing star playmaker Rankine, and then Taylor Walker from half-time because of a back injury, have much to ponder. They continue to struggle to win on the road, and have not won at the home of football since 2017.They had their moments in this game, booting five of six goals in one burst of play late in the third term to cut a 48-point deficit to little more than four goals, but it wasn’t enough. Lachlan Sholl added the first goal of the final term after a heavy Luke Breust hit, but the triple-premiership Hawk responded with a goal of his own to settle the nerves.Rory Laird and Matt Crouch found plenty of the ball, while forward Darcy Fogarty provided some life, but small forward Josh Rachele needs to work harder. Brayden Cook, thrown forward by coach Matthew Nicks, showed good goal sense, and finished with three majors.Skipper Jordan Dawson carried an ankle issue into the game, and there had been speculation he was to be a late withdrawal. While he did take to the field, he was largely a non-factor.A week after a 99-point thumping of West Coast, this was a dispiriting loss for the Crows, who have four wins and a draw, and are fading from finals contention. They must beat Richmond at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.

Seb Ross has booted a goal from the square after some hard running from the Saints midfielder to get into position to score.

The Saints have been told to back themselves and bring some excitement with their running. Let’s see how it goes.

Eagles 43, Saints 34 with 17 mins to go in Q3.

Saints coach Ross Lyon said Marcus Windhager will be sent to Harley Reid to start the second half

“Harley Reid lit them up,” Lyon told Fox Footy.

“So we will put time into him. Match him up and try to quiet him.

“We need to bring some run and excitement with our run from behind.”

Saints coach Ross Lyon.Credit: AFL Photos

For a game between clubs who started the round in 15th and 16th, this game is very watchable. The reason? Harley Reid.

The No.1 draft pick has strapped his team to his young shoulders and said come with me.

Elliot Yeo of the Eagles and Harley Reid celebrate a goal that was later ruled out.Credit: AFL Photos

After a quiet first term, Reid had 13 touches that quarter, including six clearances, to be the game’s leading possession-getter with 17. In a dour game, the electricity he provides every time he gets the ball has been the difference between two evenly-matched sides.

Reid’s strength makes him difficult to tackle effectively, allowing him to release to a free teammate in heavy traffic. He attacks the ball with a ferocity rarely seen of a first-season player. Watching him play, you’d think he already has 100 games under his belt.

At one stage, Reid had one four clearances from about six stoppages. The Saints’ effort cannot be faulted, but their ball use has let them down.

Tom Barrass and Jeremy McGovern have been magnificent in defence, while Jamie Cripps has been lively at the other end with two goals, the latter a beauty coming on the run hard up against the boundary line. The Saints need to lift their workrate in the midfield.

Jack Steele, Jack Sinclair and Seb Ross have not had much influence. The margin is only 14 points, but it must feel like more for Saints fans given their side’s struggle to score.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell began his post-match press conference with an impromptu condemnation of racism, having revealed a Hawks’ player had been abused on social media through the game on Saturday.

Mitchell said the player, whom the Hawks did not wish to name, had given permission for Mitchell to raise the issue.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell.Credit: Getty Images

The abuse allegedly came from a Hawthorn supporter.

“We have got some stuff that I don’t want to go into, but I just want to put it out there that if you have any form of racism in you as a Hawthorn person, we are not interested in having you as part of our club,” Mitchell said.

“So, while we are all enjoying a fantastic win, and we should all be enjoying it, unfortunately, some parts of our Hawthorn family can’t enjoy it because of what heroes on their keyboards think they are capable of doing.

“If anyone of those ever wears brown and gold, we don’t want you.”

Mitchell said he understood that going public with racism could be a double-edged sword, but the coach sought specialist advice post-match before fronting the media, with this advice being “to show as much support as we can” to the player.

“I haven’t read it [social media post] personally, I am not a social media scroller too much, but, it’s hard as a coach because you see what the players put into their work, and when you miss a shot on goal, the amount of effort that goes into every single thing that these guys do on the field, every team, I am not just talking about Hawthorn here, every player just leads so much of their life in the football sense, and for that to be called out because of how they look, honestly, grow up, because it’s absolutely ridiculous,” Mitchell said.

The Eagles turned a close quarter into one they had clearly won as Cripps and then Ryan kicked goals in the last 30 seconds of the term.

“Flyin’ Ryan” has done his best work at ground level today and that last goal was him getting ahead of the pack and soccering the ball before the siren went.

The Eagles better hope the AC Milan and Fiorentina scouts haven’t stuck around after last night’s soccer friendly or they could start making inquiries about the Eagles forward.

The Saints have some big worries. Tough losses to finals sides is one thing, getting beaten by such a young Eagles side will be far less explainable.

Andrew Gaff of the Eagles and Jack Petruccelle celebrates a goal.Credit: AFL Photos

Cripps has kicked his second goal after threading the needle through the middle from the right pocket.

That was the second goal that Liam Ryan has setup for Cripps in this quarter. They are working super well together.

Eagles 36, Saints 28

Jeremy McGovern has lined up Paddy Dow and tackled him into next week. There was nothing untoward about it.

He went low, lifted Dow slightly but placed him with a duty of care that will spare him any trouble with the match review officer.

For good measure, he helped Dow off the Optus Stadium turf as well. He does not to be injured, though might be a little short of breath.

The Eagles needed a spark.