Hawthorn could mirror the extraordinary rise of their men’s team after demolishing Collingwood by 47 points to maintain their unbeaten start to the AFLW season.
Even after captain Emily Bates was a late withdrawal due to a calf injury, the Hawks crushed Collingwood 11.7 (73) to 3.8 (26) at Victoria Park on Saturday.
It was Hawthorn’s biggest score and winning margin in their short history, topping the records they set six days earlier during a thumping victory over Carlton.
But the win might have come at a cost after key players Aine McDonagh (arm, head) and Casey Sherriff (leg) left the field in distressed in the last quarter.
McDonagh was accidentally collected by Collingwood star Ruby Schleicher in a marking contest and left the field with the assistance of trainers.
Only minutes earlier, Sherriff hobbled from the field clutching her leg.
The pair played key roles in the thumping win, with McDonagh kicking two goals and Sherriff slotting one.
Hawthorn could mirror the extraordinary rise of their men’s team after demolishing Collingwood by 47 points to maintain their unbeaten start to the AFLW season.
Even after captain Emily Bates was a late withdrawal due to a calf injury, the Hawks crushed Collingwood 11.7 (73) to 3.8 (26) at Victoria Park on Saturday.
It was Hawthorn’s biggest score and winning margin in their short history, topping the records they set six days earlier during a thumping victory over Carlton.
But the win might have come at a cost after key players Aine McDonagh (arm, head) and Casey Sherriff (leg) left the field in distressed in the last quarter.
McDonagh was accidentally collected by Collingwood star Ruby Schleicher in a marking contest and left the field with the assistance of trainers.
Only minutes earlier, Sherriff hobbled from the field clutching her leg.
The pair played key roles in the thumping win, with McDonagh kicking two goals and Sherriff slotting one.
McDonagh’s fellow Irishwoman Aileen Gilroy also kicked two goals as Hawthorn broke the game open with 5.1 to 0.2 in the third quarter.
It has been an impressive opening fortnight for the Hawks, who changed coaches during the off-season.
After leading the club for their first two AFLW seasons, Bec Goddard “retired” from coaching, with the Hawks appointing Daniel Webster after he served as an assistant at perennial powerhouse Brisbane.
The Hawks finished 16th last season after placing 15th in their debut season, but their early form shows they could make a major jump in 2024.
The result came less than 24 hours after Hawthorn’s AFL team won an elimination final against the Western Bulldogs, despite starting the season 0-5.
Men’s coach Sam Mitchell was in the crowd on Saturday to watch the Hawks display their rapid improvement.