Hawks Survive Kangaroos’ Scare, Watson Shines in Coleman Race
In a thrilling encounter at UTAS Stadium in Launceston, Hawthorn has survived a major scare from a determined North Melbourne side to retain third spot on the AFL ladder. The Hawks, who were expected to cruise past the struggling Kangaroos, found themselves trailing at three-quarter time before rallying to secure a crucial victory. The win keeps them firmly in the top four, but it was far from a comfortable afternoon for the home side.
Despite the team’s struggles, the spotlight was firmly on Hawthorn’s young forward, Jack Watson, who delivered a career-best performance with five goals. His equal career-best outing was instrumental in keeping the Hawks in the contest, and it has propelled him to second place in the Coleman Medal count with 52 majors for the season. Watson now trails only Carlton’s Charlie Curnow, who leads with 57 goals. With several rounds remaining, the race for the league’s leading goalkicker is heating up, and Watson’s form suggests he could be a genuine contender.
North Melbourne, despite their lowly ladder position, showed remarkable resilience. Nick Larkey appeared to have overcome his recent goalkicking yips, slotting two majors, including a captain’s goal late in the third quarter that gave the Kangaroos an unlikely three-quarter-time lead. However, the Hawks’ class eventually told, with Watson’s five goals and contributions from Gunston, Chol, and others proving too much for the young Roos side. The final margin may have been comfortable, but the effort from North Melbourne was a clear sign of their fighting spirit.
The match also highlighted the emerging talent of North Melbourne’s Zane Trembath, who kicked three goals, while Sheezel and Curtis each added two. For Hawthorn, the win was a testament to their ability to grind out results even when not at their best. As the season enters its final stretch, the Hawks will need to maintain this resilience if they are to secure a top-four finish and make a deep finals run. Meanwhile, North Melbourne can take heart from their performance, even if the result didn’t go their way.
Shimanta Das 
