Hawthorn stun Bulldogs to book spot in AFL semi-final

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Hawthorn stun Bulldogs to book spot in AFL semi-final

SNAPSHOT OF THE SECOND AFL ELIMINATIONFINAL:Result: Hawthorn 14.15 (99) bt Western Bulldogs 9.8 (62) in front of 97,828 fans at the MCG

They said it: “Sam (Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell) has utter trust in me and I texted him before I went to the pub … I just had a few waters with my mates and I was home by halftime,” Hawthorn forward Jack Ginnivan after he caused a stir by going to the pub the night before the game.

Key moment: Hawthorn young **** Calsher Dear was built for finals, just as his late father, 1991 Norm Smith medallist, Paul was. Dear nailed a tricky set shot during the third quarter to put the Hawks 26 points clear in a major dagger to the Bulldogs’ hopes.

The stats: Hawthorn won their first final since capturing the third chapter of their premiership hat-trick in 2015. The crowd of 97,828 was the largest for an elimination final.

Injuries: Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli was clearly hampered as he spent extended periods off the field and struggled to perform at the high standard of which he is capable. The surging Hawks looked to have got through unscathed.

What’s next: Hawthorn, who finished 16th last season, will start as warm favourites to progress to a preliminary final when they travel to face demoralised Port Adelaide next Friday night. The Power were destroyed by 84 points against Geelong on Thursday night, falling to a fourth-straight finals defeat. The Bulldogs will begin their off-season bitterly disappointed they couldn’t capitalise on an outstanding end to the home-and-away campaign.

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