HAWKS FLY WITH JASON

Not even a six-goal last term from the Cats could stop the Hawks who took their record to 13 wins from their last 14 clashes between the two sides, running out winners 16-18-114 to 14-11-95.

The 15-point winning margin was not a true indication of the game as Hawthorn spearhead Jason Dunstall finished with nine goals for the match and 104 for the season.

In the process of Dunstall notching up three figures he beat three opponents - Andrew Rogers, Tim McGrath and the mercurial Gary Ablett, who turned in a "shocker."

Dunstall aside, Steve Lawrence in the ruck and Tasmanian Darrin Pritchard with 25 kicks and 12 handballs, was best on ground against a Geelong outfit that was well beaten by three quarter time.

In other matches yesterday Footscray crushed Adelaide 22-11-143 to 8-8-56; Essendon beat St Kilda 16-15-111 to 11-17-83; Collingwood thumped Richmond 24-17-161 to 14-14-98.

The first half at Kardinia Park was totally dominated by the Hawks, highlighted by Dunstall reaching the magical milestone of 100 goals for the season.

On what Dunstall showed he was right on target to break Bob Pratt and Peter Hudson's long-standing record of 150 for the season.

Dunstall's milestone, his fifth for the match, came 6mins.48secs from the long break, a "gimme" in pouring rain from just 25 metres out.

Yet the Hawks, who went into the match in sixth place on the ladder should have been further in front than the 26-point margin they held on the Cats at halftime.

The Hawks could manage just four goals from 10 scoring shots in the opening term, with Dunstall bagging a brace to lead the Cats by 16 at the first break

Clearly the defending premiers weren't about to let another game slip from their grasp.

The return of Steve Lawrence from injury in the first ruck against a weakened Geelong ruck division was a major focal point of any Hawk attacking thrust.

Lawrence totally dominated the centre bounces providing the spark the Hawthorn juggernaut had been sorely missing in recent weeks.

Darrin Pritchard, deputising for the injured John Platten, was having a field day, picking up 15 kicks and seven handpasses to halftime.

Likewise Ray Jenke, given the job of tagging Geelong "superman" Gary Ablett, kept the Corio Bay champion to just a handful of touches in the opening two terms.

Another pleasing factor for Hawthorn coach Alan Joyce was the return to form of the sadly out of touch Paul Hudson. He revelled in the conditions as a strong westerly blew across the park to post three goals next to his name, including two in the second term.

But the opening two terms belonged to Dunstall as he added three goals to his brace of goals he picked-off in the opening term.

HOW THEY STAND

ROUND SIXTEEN

P W L Pts PC MR

GEELONG 15 11 4 44 148.2 73.3

FOOTSCRAY 15 11 4 44 135.8 73.3

COLLINGWOOD 14 10 4 40 116.6 71.4

WEST COAST * 14 9 4 38 122.5 67.9

ST KILDA 15 10 5 40 119.9 66.7

HAWTHORN 15 9 6 36 116.9 60.0

CARLTON 15 9 6 36 111.2 60.0

* * Fitzroy 13 7 6 28 96.0 53.8

Essendon 15 8 7 32 96.2 53.3

Adelaide 15 6 9 24 85.8 40.0

* * * Nth Melbourne 14 4 10 16 89.6 28.6

Richmond 14 4 10 16 78.2 28.6

* * Sydney * 13 3 9 14 78.2 26.9

Melbourne * 14 3 10 14 78.1 25.0

Brisbane * 15 2 12 10 62.5 16.7

* * * denotes bye this round

* * denotes to play today

* denotes played draw

NEXT WEEK'S GAMES

ROUND SEVENTEEN: Tuesday, July 7: State Of Origin: South Australia v Victoria. Saturday, July 11: Hawthorn v Carlton, Geelong v Melbourne, North Melbourne v Richmond, St Kilda v Footscray, Brisbane v Collingwood. Sunday, July 12: Fitzroy v Essendon, West Coast v Sydney.