Hero:
Yes, yes ... of course it was Buddy. But he's had enough publicity in the past couple of weeks, so let's hear it for Michael Osborne, who kicked a career-best four goals and created a few others to provide an unlikely third option on the forward line for Hawthorn.
Goat:
Ryan Hargrave. The Bulldogs had worked hard in the third quarter to try to drag themselves back into the game and had cut the margin to 32 points after kicking the first two goals of the term. A ball up 25m from the Hawks' goal, Hargrave unnecessarily bumps Osborne out of the contest and gives away a silly free kick that gifts Hawthorn a goal.
Turning point:
Nineteen minutes into the second term and the Western Bulldogs are mounting a charge. The Hawks had stretched their 16-point quarter time lead to 36 points, but two goals in two minutes to Adam Cooney and Jason Akermanis have cut the margin to four goals, and the Dogs have genuine momentum for the first time since early in the first quarter. They get another centre break and begin to sweep the ball forward, but Daniel Giansiracusa butchers a simple kick. Hawthorn sends the ball to Buddy Franklin, who wins a questionable free kick and goals. Bye bye momentum.
Bonus points:
... to Campbell Brown, who is one tough boy. Said to be playing with a broken bone in his foot, Brown sprinted from the field with his right thumb kinked at a crazy angle. A bit of medical attention, a pile of strapping, and Brown was back onto the field and throwing himself after the hard ball.
... to the gods who invented indigenous magic. Late in the third term Cyril Rioli fluffs a kick to Franklin, but Buddy pats the ball out into space and it ends up back with Junior Boy. He flicks a brilliant look-away handball to Franklin, who kicks truly from 45m off one step.
... to Daniel Cross' left fist, which clenched a lazy 29 times during the match as its owner fired off handballs. A cursory glance at records suggests this is the second-highest tally of handballs in a game in VFL/AFL history. Expect Cross to overcome deep-seated bruising to his hand and be fit for next week.