Late Cyril winner sinks brave Dons

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IF HAWTHORN was wearing a business shirt, it would have one white collar and one blue collar.

Yes, it would be a handsomely-paid executive, but one just as willing to clean the toilets as wheel and deal in the mahogany boardroom.

ANALYSIS: RYDER BLOW HELPS DONS GO FORWARD

Where it matters - inside the fence - this is a side that continues to amaze. It is one that boasts incredible skill and class, but also one that rolls up its sleeves and fights.

Dyson Heppell is tackled by Shaun Burgoyne. Source: News Corp Australia

Never was Hawthorn's grit more pronounced than in a dramatic match they dominated, surrendered and then came up from the grave to win, 13.12 (90) to 12.14 (86).

FOR FULL LIVE HQ COVERAGE CLICK ON THE GAME IN THE SCORE CENTRE ABOVE

A backline of midgets missing Norm Smith Medallist Brian Lake, Ben Stratton and Ryan Schoenmakers. A weakened midfield missing Essendon tormentor Sam Mitchell and hard nut Brad Sewell.

Jobe Watson and Luke Breust race to the footy. Source: News Corp Australia

SWAN DISTRICTS REJECT GARLETT

And then, the loss of skipper Luke Hodge to a groin injury just after half-time when Essendon came with a tidal wave of pressure you felt would have buried any other outfit in the league.

This pulsating encounter was flipped on its head precisely seven minutes and 12 seconds into the third quarter when Hodge shuffled off. At that point the premier lead Essendon by 20 points, having lead by 32 at half-time.

Patrick Ambrose celebrates another goal during his purple patch. Source: News Corp Australia

It was then that a Bombers side completely outplayed for an hour slammed on seven unanswered goals. Essendon kicked 6.3 to the Hawks' 0.4 in the third term - the first time Hawthorn has been kept goalless in a quarter for more than a year.

Coincidence?

It sounds absurd to claim the loss of one player could inflict such a change in fortunes.

Cyril Rioili kicks the winning goal and is mobbed by his mates. Source: News Corp Australia

But when that player is Hodge, perhaps the most influential heart and soul general in the caper, it's difficult to argue.

Up in the radio booths, Hawks great Jason Dunstall said on Triple M: "It's amazing what can happen when you lose a bloke like Luke Hodge.

"All of a sudden you lose your general and no one steps up to fill the void. It's opened the Hawks up."

Dyson Heppell clears as he is tackled by Jordan Lewis. Source: News Corp Australia

Essendon, too, were forced to withdraw a star when Patrick Ryder went down with a knee injury. But this simply encouraged a Bombers outfit who had been obsessed with exposing Hawthorn's supposed defensive frailties with aimless long balls, to go small and narrow the focus inside 50m.

When they didn't have the ball, they swarmed with an intent that rendered the Hawks into patches of panic. How often have we seen that?

Essendon's score map. Champion Data. Source: Supplied

Hawthorn's score map. Champion Data. Source: Supplied

The result was a seismic shift in this contest. Paul Chapman's clutch snap goal with little more than two minutes left not only put Essendon up by nine points, it was greeted with such a guttural roar you were convinced it was Hawthorn's back breaker.

But good sides, premiership sides, just don't roll over. Luke Breust snapped his own goal to cut the deficit to three points before Isaac Smith doggedly forced the ball forward from a boundary throw-in where returnee Cyril Rioli swooped to kick the sealer.

Cyril Rioili deserves another photo. Look at him celebrate that match-winner. Brilliant! Source: News Corp Australia

It wasn't silky, it wasn't pretty. It was just sheer hard work built around sacrifice and efforts. Shaun Burgoyne is made for games like these, Josh Gibson was yet again immense down back on Joe Daniher and his unheralded sidekick Kyle Cheney made a mess of Jake Carlisle despite conceding 11cm and 8kg.

Essendon will take enormous positives and so it should for its ability to wrestle the contest back in its favour against a quality side.

The thing is, Hawthorn will get better.

EDMUND'S VOTES

3 Shaun Burgoyne

2 Josh Gibson

1 Jobe Watson

BEST

Hawthorn: Burgoyne, Gibson, Hill, Rioli, Suckling Cheney, Smith

Essendon: Watson, Hooker, Hibberd, Goddard, Zaharakis, Hocking, Chapman, Ambrose

ROUND 2 TEAMS

Essendon v Hawthorn, Etihad Stadium Friday 7.50pm

ESSENDON

B: M. Baguley, C. Hooker, D. Fletcher

HB: M. Hibberd, M. Hurley, B. Goddard

C: D. Zaharakis, J. Watson, D. Heppell

HF: P. Chapman, J. Carlisle, P. Ambrose

F: B. Stanton, J. Daniher, K. Hardingham

Foll: P. Ryder, H. Hocking, B. Howlett

I/C: J. Merrett, D. Myers, M. Gleeson, Z. Merrett

Emg: T. Colyer, E. Kavanagh, J. Ashby Ins Outs

No change

HAWTHORN

B: L. Hodge, J. Gibson, S. Burgoyne

HB: M. Suckling, K. Cheney, G. Birchall

C: L. Shiels, S. Mitchell, B. Hill

HF: L. Breust, J. Roughead, I. Smith

F: J. Gunston, D. Hale, C. Rioli

Foll: B. McEvoy, W. Langford, J. Lewis

I/C: T.O'Brien, P. Puopolo, J. Simpkin, T. Duryea

Emg: D. Wanganeen, A. Litherland, M. Spangher

In: C. Rioli

Out: D. Wanganeen

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