Western Bulldogs cop 'significant destruction' at hands of baby Hawks in record elimination final
Updated . First published at
The Western Bulldogs have been left shellshocked, after their skipper Marcus Bontempelli was held to just nine touches to three quarter time on Friday night.
It saw Hawthorn overcome the Dogs by 37 points in the elimination final at the MCG.
The Hawks have officially booked a date with Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval in a must-win semi final next week.
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But it's all eyes on the Bulldogs, who carried in elite form and failed to stand up in front of a record elimination final crowd of 97,828.
"It was a significant destruction of a very good opposition," Collingwood great Nathan Buckley said on Fox post match.
Disappointed Bulldogs players walk from the ground. via Getty Images
And Brisbane great Jonathan Brown didn't hold back in his assessment of one crucial error made by Dogs coach Luke Beveridge.
The 2016 premiership leader made the call to start forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan on the bench in the second quarter.
"I hate, as a key forward, starting on the bench," Brown said on Fox at the main break.
Ugle-Hagan had just four touches and didn't kick a goal for the Dogs, in a poor outing.
Jack Ginnivan's goal celebration. ABC7
At the other end, it was Hawks skipper James Sicily with 23 disposals and 11 marks, who patrolled the backline and directed proceedings all night.
Hawks midfielder Jai Newcombe had 35 disposals, while Bontempelli, despite his best fourth-quarter efforts, managed just 18 for the match.
Meantime, it was Hawthorn's young forwards who had a night out.
Nick Watson of the Hawks marks the ball. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Nick Watson kicked four in his first final, while Calsher Dear had three.
It's been nine years since the Hawks last won a final, and that victory was back in 2015, when their coach, Sam Mitchell, collected his fourth flag as a player.
It means they set up a semi final clash with the Power in South Australia, who went down to Geelong by 84 points during Thursday night's qualifying final.
