HAWTHORN skipper Luke Hodge has proved reports of his football demise were exaggerated after inspiring his team to a 55-point win over Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday.
The Hawks trailed by 22 points at the 17-minute mark of the second quarter and were being well beaten around the stoppages early by the Magpies, who had been peppering their forwards with opportunities in rainy conditions.
Enter Hodge. The Hawk skipper missed the opening game of the season after a knee injury severely limited his pre-season, but you wouldn't have known it by the way he imposed himself against the Magpies.
With 10 possessions for the second term, Hodge led from the front as the Hawks wrested control of the game, and he kicked the last of three straight Hawthorn goals to bring his team back to within a point at half-time.
As good and willing as the Magpies were, the Hawks looked the slicker and more damaging team in the second half.
At times, their ball movement was lethal. The best example came at the 18-minute mark of the third term when Brent Guerra roosted a torpedo punt from the kick-in to Ben Stratton in the centre. Stratton handballed straight to Lance Franklin, who jumped over an opponent on the ground, before sprinting clear and bombing a goal from well outside 50m.
Hodge finished the game with a 31 possessions and was well supported by Liam Shiels (28 possessions), Grant Birchall (28), Shaun Burgoyne (23) and Josh Gibson in defence.
The final score was 22.13 (145) to 13.12 (90).
After the match, Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said his team had taken until midway through the second quarter to cope with the slippery conditions at the MCG.
"Collingwood is an outstanding side at being able to play in those type of conditions. They're well-suited … to play that type of footy and we just didn't adapt very well at all," Clarkson said.
"When Collingwood were quick handball, quick kick and get it moving forward, we tried two handballs or tried to finesse with the ball a little bit, so it took us a fair while to come to terms with that, and that meant that the Pies were able to apply a fair amount of scoreboard pressure on us in that period of the game.
"But once we were able to correct that we used our chances to get the ball forward (and) when we had those chances the game started to turn our way."
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said Hawthorn had overwhelmed his team physically after its fast start.
"As the game wore on they were tougher, more physical, able to get handballs out of our tackles and stop us from doing the same, and in a nutshell that is where the game is won and lost," Buckley said.
"I am not suggesting at any stage that our players gave up. Hawthorn are a very strong footy side and they won in the areas that you need to win to win footy games."
Franklin also overcame a slow start to the game to finish with four goals.
Franklin's opponent for most of the game, Collingwood defender Ben Reid, injured his right knee in a marking contest at the six-minute mark of the second quarter. He left the ground for treatment but returned to the ground 17 minutes later.
Travis Cloke was outstanding for the Pies up forward, kicking five goals, including two in a row midway through the third quarter that helped Collingwood get back to six points.
Dane Swan (a game-high 33 possessions) and Scott Pendlebury (29) were typically prolific for the Pies in the midfield, but after the first term lacked their usual spark.
Jamie Elliott started the game on fire, kicking three goals by the 12-minute mark of the second term, but the Magpie small forward subsequently faded out of the game.
Collingwood dominated play early in the match in wet conditions.
The Pies led the inside 50 count 17-8 in the first term and could blame inaccurate kicking (3.6) for the fact they took only an 11-point lead into quarter-time.
COLLINGWOOD 3.6 7.6 11.9 13.12 (90)
HAWTHORN 2.1 7.5 15.9 22.13 (145)
GOALS
Collingwood: Cloke 5, Elliott 3, Blair, Hudson, Fasolo, Brown, Lynch
Hawthorn: Franklin 4, Breust 3, Roughead 3, Burgoyne 3, Hodge 2, Hill 2, Hale, Anderson, Birchall, Puopolo, Lewis
BEST
Collingwood: Cloke, Swan, Elliott, Blair, Hudson, Johnson
Hawthorn: Hodge, Franklin, Shiels, Birchall, Stratton, Gibson, Roughead, Burgoyne
INJURIES
Collingwood: Reid (jarred knee)
Hawthorn: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Alex Fasolo repaced Jack Frost in the third quarter
Hawthorn: Jack Gunston replaced Max Bailey in the third quarter
Reports: Harry O'Brien (Collingwood) for rough conduct in the second quarter
Umpires: Donlon, Stevic, Ryan
Official crowd: 72,254 at the MCG
The final siren sounds with Hawthorn running out emphatic 55 point winners against Collingwood. The win was set up by a 15 goal to 6 second half. The rest of the competition has been warned.
BEHIND MAGPIESO'Brien runs through the middle and kicks to Elliott who jumps early but marks. From 40 metres out he drags the kick.
BEHIND MAGPIESSchoenmakers kicks for the ball and concedes the free kick. Swan lines it up but kicks it across the face of goal for a behind.
BEHIND HAWKSFranklin marks 40 metres out but he can't bring it back enough.
GOAL HAWKSHawthorn doing as they please. Rioli chips it to Burgoyne outside 50 who tells hie teammates to leave it to him. They didn't need to worry with Burgoyne bouncing it through.
BEHIND HAWKSEveryone is getting into the act for the Hawks. This time it's Duryea who kicks from distance, but he just misses.
BEHIND HAWKSHodge marks it in the pocket but is unable to kick his third. He doesn't miss by much as he hits the post.
GOAL HAWKSThere are easy kicks everywhere for the Hawks inside 50. This time Lewis chimes in to take the mark. From the angle he caresses the ball and it works nicely. Hawks by plenty.
GOAL HAWKSHawthorn are running rampant on Collingwood. They seem to be able to score against them at will when they're on. Burgoyne handballs over the top to Puopolo who ices the cake.
GOAL HAWKSRoughead comes out on the lead and takes it in full flight without any challenger. He leans back in his unique style and kicks another goal for the Hawks.
Hawthorn have been very impressive since halftime. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the premiership favourites.
GOAL MAGPIESSinclair marks and handballs to Lynch running past who quite simply just kicks the goal. That was pretty straight forward. Collingwood still with a slim chance.
GOAL HAWKSRioli with a gut busting run. The kick comes unstuck, but there is a tackle inside 50 and out it comes again. Anderson combines with Hill who puts it away. He has 2 goals.
GOAL HAWKSHawthorn get it straight back. The ball is pumped back inside 50 where Breust does the fruit picking of the tall timber. He reaps the rewards of the fruit and kicks the goal.
GOAL MAGPIESBrown marks it on the wing but is paid a 50 metre penalty. From well outside 50 his kick has the carry. Oh yes it does!
BEHIND MAGPIESThomas cops a high one but he may have taken the mark. Either way Thomas has the shot. It looks good off the boot, but drifts to hit the post.
GOAL HAWKSHawthorn scramble the ball into the goal square and who else is there to surge and get on the end of it with a soccer? BUDDY! The big man has 4 goals and the Hawks lead by 5 goals!
The final quarter is underway.
Hawks lead by 24 points at three quarter time.
GOAL HAWKSBreust marks it hugging the ball 40 metres out. Don't worry Luke it loves you too! Breust lines it up and the siren sounds as the kick is in the air. It's all good. It's a goal!
The Hawks must be inspired by Alicia Keys song because they are on fire!
GOAL HAWKSReid slips over allowing Franklin to run onto it. He is hard against the boundary and centres it to Burgoyne sitting in the square. He marks it and kicks it two levels up.
GOAL HAWKSAt the ball up inside 50 Roughead and Lynch wrestle. Lynch gets both hands on Roughead and the free kick is paid. Roughead puts it through from just inside 50.
GOAL MAGPIESIt's raining goals! Cloke marks 45 metres out and he earns his highly discussed pay cheque this afternoon by kicking his fifth goal. He likes the celebration! It's just 6 points.
GOAL MAGPIESFasolo has just come on as sub for Frost. He makes an instantaneous impact by running onto the ball and banging it through to bring the Magpies back to within 12 points.
GOAL HAWKSHodge with another goal from the stoppage. From the throw in it's tapped down to him and he lets rip with a cracker. 53 metres and post high. The skipper is on fire! Hawks by 18 points.
GOAL HAWKSBUDDY!Franklin takes it in the centre. He hurdles over a Collingwood player and then lets rip with a kick that travels 80 metres, bouncing through for a goal. Buddy brings the house down!
BEHIND MAGPIESCloke marks close to the boundary. From the chalk marking he slams it into the post.
GOAL MAGPIESCloke leads and takes it low. He strides up with purpose and guides it through. He is keeping Collingwood in the game.
BEHIND MAGPIESShaw kicks it along the ground but it's across the face and a behind.
The Magpies have had the challenge sent to them by the Hawks. Can they stand up?
BEHIND HAWKSHale gets it off to Anderson who has time and space and his kick is disappointing.
BEHIND MAGPIESPendlebury has it 35 metres out but there is an angle. He fires in the shot, but goal umpire Chelsea Roffey thumps the post before signalling for a behind.
GOAL HAWKSHodge is having some game for the Hawks. He handballs it to Birchall at close quarters and Birchall bends it back for a beautiful goal. Hawks playing well with Collingwood challenged.
BEHIND HAWKSRoughead is the target at the stoppage and he throws it onto his boot to see it agonisingly hit the post.
GOAL MAGPIESHudson picks up the ball 30 metres out. Gibson applies the vice like tackle but Hudson gets the kick away and what a kick it is! Big Ben chimes in for the Magpies!
GOAL HAWKSFranklin casts aside Reid and juggles the mark before it's knocked out of his hands. The mark is paid and Buddy takes full advantage.
GOAL HAWKSThe kick out from the behind is spoilt. The spillage goes to Breust who turns and kicks the goal. He doesn't need to wait for an invitation. He just kicks goals!
BEHIND HAWKSFranklin is poised in the goal square to mark but Pendlebury is there in time to spoil and a behind results.
BEHIND HAWKSRioli fires in a quick shot through congestion but he misses to the left.
The third quarter is underway.
The siren sounds for halftime with Collingwood leading by the closest possible margin.
GOAL HAWKSFrom the stoppage Hodge takes possession and strikes it sweetly. From 48 metres it bounces in the square and bounces through! What a goal from the skipper.
BEHIND MAGPIESCollingwood's defence does enough to see out the danger and a behind to the Hawks results.
GOAL HAWKSFranklin is standing Frost as the ball is headed in their direction. Franklin wrestles his way to the front and takes the mark. From 35 metres out he kicks the goal.
GOAL HAWKSHawthorn have had the upper hand for the past five minutes with no goals.....until now. Jed Anderson is at the right place at the right time and he rushes the kick. But it's through!
BEHIND HAWKSThe Magpies defence rush it through for a behind.
BEHIND HAWKSRioli is paid a soft free kick. With the rain pouring his kick is off the side of the boot and only a behind.
GOAL MAGPIESCloke is enjoying this match! He takes a relatively simple mark by his standards. Then as soon as his kick leaves the boot he starts celebrating. Collingwood by 22 points.
BEHIND HAWKSRioli tries to kick a flukey off the ground bouncing goal, but it bounces the wrong way.
GOAL MAGPIESCollingwood re-instate their 17 point lead with Cloke marking on the lead. His shot at goal is good and the Magpies fans love it.
GOAL MAGPIESElliott must not shower or he is super fast. He always seems to find space! On this occasion he bursts onto the scene just inside 50. He runs in and kicks the goal. He has 3!
Collingwood could be a man down with Reid carried off the field by two trainers.
GOAL HAWKSThe Hawks mean business in this second quarter. Roughead comes out strongly to mark. He leans back at the kick but it looks beautiful. Straight through the middle.
GOAL HAWKSHawks get it back almost immediately with David Hale taking a good strong mark 35 metres out. He seems to have lost his hair but he has not lost his kicking ability. That's a goal.
GOAL MAGPIESCollingwood continue to dominate the clearances. They send it forward once again and the ball spills to Blair who just throws it on his boot and waits for the all clear. GOAL!
The second quarter is underway.
Collingwood lead by 11 points at quarter time.
GOAL MAGPIESCloke is third in line behind Hodge and Thomas (who provided the distraction in the Drew Petrie decoy role) but still takes a good mark. His shot at goal is even better!
BEHIND MAGPIESThomas runs hard to get onto the end of a chain of handballs and chips the pass to Sinclair who is not the best of kicks. He lines it up and misses to the right.
BEHIND HAWKSShiels sticks his boot at the ball in an opportunistic attempt to create something out of nothing. It rolls to the left of the big sticks.
The pressure valve is turned up to high. The MCG is cooking!
It is really bucketing down at the MCG.
GOAL HAWKSHeath Shaw has a brain fade that sees Lewis on his backside. Franklin passes to Burgoyne who marks 40 metres out. Burgoyne goes back and drills it. He is pumped and so are the Hawks.
GOAL MAGPIESA chain of handballs inside 50 for the Magpies sees them spread successfully. It ends with Elliott who snaps it through for his second.
BEHIND MAGPIESCloke marks 45 metres out but he is lucky to register a score with his shot.
BEHIND MAGPIESHudson with a great hitout straight down Swan's through. Swan runs inside 50 and shoots, but misses to the left.
GOAL HAWKSO'Brien tackles Hill but there's one problem. Hill doesn't have the ball. Hill bends the resulting free kick back for a goal.
BEHIND MAGPIESGoldsack runs onto the ball deep in the pocket. His kicks trickles through for a behind.
GOAL MAGPIESPendlebury kicks inside 50 but Lynch is not able to mark. Never fear Elliott is here. Elliott takes the crumbs and snaps it through. Looks like last week's form will carry.
BEHIND MAGPIESBlair receives from Elliott before snapping under pressure and missing to the right.
Starting on the bench with the vests will be Fasolo and Gunston.
A wet MCG greets this afternoon's combatants. It's Collingwood hosting Hawthorn in the big match of Round 3.