Sam Mitchell spins out of trouble. Picture: Scott Chris Source: HWT Image Library
HAWTHORN finally got its first win of the pre-season, but will now sweat on the fitness of Josh Gibson and the Match Review Panel's verdict of David Hale's hit on Leigh Adams as it prepares for Round 1.
The Hawks defeated North Melbourne by 81 points in Craigieburn this afternoon in a match that was cut short midway through the final term as both teams opted for a safety first approach at a rain-swept Highgate Reserve.
Gibson was smashed in a marking contest in the dying seconds of the first half and appeared to be short of breath and holding the left side of his rib cage.
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He moved gingerly towards the bench, but then was assisted from the field by two trainers once the half time siren sounded.
He did not return to the field, but coach Alastair Clarkson said afterwards it was always planned to rest Gibson - as well as Jordan Lewis and Jarryd Roughead - in the second half.nm#38 Majak Daw gets away from h#25 Picture: Scott Chris Source: HWT Image Library
Hale was reported for making forceful front on contact to Adams in the first quarter.
Both attacked a ground ball in the Hawks' forward 50m, but Adams was sent crashing to the turf after being collected high.
He played on, but was sporting a black eye after the match.
Injuries and reports aside, it was a fairly routine win for Hawthorn against an extremely undermanned Kangaroos outfit missing up to 12 of its first choice players.
After a competitive first quarter, the Hawks ran out 19.8 (122) to 5.11 (41) winners.
Hale kicked four goals while Gunston, Lance Franklin and Sam Grimley chipped in with three goals each.
Clarkson said he was confident Gibson would be fit to face Geelong at the MCG in 15 days time.
"I think he's going to be OK, Gibbo ... he just got a bit of a knock in a marking contest,'' Clarkson said.
nm#38 Majak Daw gets away from h#25 Picture: Scott Chris Source: HWT Image Library
"We were going to take him out at half time anyway. He'll be OK, he's a pretty tough competitor.''
Many Hawks fans would have headed to the northern suburbs hoping to glean information on how their side would go about replacing the injured Matthew Suckling.
Matthew Spangher was good in defence and can play both tall and small, while Kyle Cheney was also serviceable.
Interestingly, Gunston also won a fair few possessions in the back half and also had two rebound 50s to his name.
Clarkson said the art of re-working his side's backline was still a work in progress.
"We'll work it out, we've got good depth at our footy club,'' he said.
"Suckers is obviously a loss for us, but you've just got to forge ahead _ when one goes down you replace him with another guy.
"We think we've got enough depth, is it the same quality? We'll wait and see. We'll keep putting blokes in there and hopefully we'll get the same rebound as last year.''
The coach said Gunston's clean foot skills could be utilised in defence at times.
"But just his polish in the front half is really valuable for our side, so we'll continue to explore things across half back but we probably don't want to rob the influence he can have for us in the front half of the ground.''
Clarkson said the match had been approached as a full Round 1 dress rehearsal and, as such, he was happy enough with the outcome.
"You can only control what you can do ... by and large it was a good hitout for both sides.''
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