Two in a row for Hawks

by Nicholas Duck
Drouin has secured back-to-back wins for the first time since 2024 having grinding out a 25-point victory against Morwell.
After playing out a defensive first half at Morwell Recreation Reserve the game opened up for the Hawks, who put their running power to good use and put the Tigers to the sword.
Eight second half goals to five ultimately allowed Drouin to prevail 13.15 (93) to 10.8 (68), handing them their fourth win of the season - equalling their tally from 2024.
It also sees them avenge their 48-point loss to the Tigers earlier this season.
The Hawks looked to make the most of their offensive potency the longer the day wore on, putting speed on the ball and giving their forwards genuine one-on-ones whenever the opportunity presented.
Morwell may have knocked off Leongatha a couple of weeks ago, but in a shootout their lack of offensive firepower came back to bite them. Not helping their case was a first quarter injury to midfielder Tyler Hillier, who spent the rest of the day on the sidelines.
With their opponents tiring the Hawks hit hard, breaking away in the third and kicking the first two goals of the fourth quarter to seal a famous win.
Brodie Atkins was at his bullocking best through the midfield to earn top honours for the Hawks. Atkins has had a brilliant season in the middle and Saturday was no different, taking it right up to some much more experienced bodies and kicking a vital goal early in the fourth quarter.
Seb Amoroso was again his partner in crime, hunting the footy with a hunger few other players can match.
Ruck Denver Lund played a brilliant hand in the middle, battling Morwell big man Isaac Abas and winning more than his fair share of hit outs.
Ewan Croucher racked up intercepts for fun, Caleb Kleeven provided drive off half back and Kaden Gregg ran relentlessly across half forward to round out Drouin's best on a day where they had plenty of winners.
Morwell's top performer was Max Linton, the rangy forward flying high to try and get his team going even as the scoreboard went against them.
Blake Couling and Campbell Blewett battled hard all game, as Michael Duncan, Eric Porigneaux and Sam Gissara had their moments.
The teams went blow for blow for much of the first half in what proved to be a fairly even contest.
Lachlan Patterson got proceedings underway via a set shot before Rylie Baker swung around to snap through Drouin's first.
Max Linton and Noah Lafrantz (four goals) got involved as the teams could hardly be separated at quarter time.
Tigers senior debutant Rileigh O'Neill booted two in a minute to begin the second term and put his team on top, only for Lafrantz to respond with a pair of his own, the second of which a brilliant effort that saw him smother a kick across Morwell's half back, collect and dribble it through just inside 50.
The ebb and flow continued early in the second, a horrific turnover allowing Gissara to run in an easy one until consecutive goals to Amoroso and Drouin coach Jordan Kingi restored the Hawks' lead.
Isaac Caroleo got one back for the Tigers but consecutive majors to Baker ensured the Hawks had taken control at the final break.
With the game up for grabs up stepped Atkins, who had a ping from the pocket that pierced through the posts, making the Hawks positively pumped.
And when Lafrantz took advantage after a free to waltz in another, the margin stood at 30 points and the game was just about done.
Speaking post-game, Kingi, who the club announced has re-signed for the 2027 season, was "really pleased" by his side's second half.
"I said to the boys pre-game we just had to make sure we weren't out of it by quarter time. We knew the game would open up if we could just grind away early," he said.
"We made sure we stopped their contest and their ability to move the footy out of the contest.
"Our good players stood up but also we didn't really have a weak link."
Kingi said the improvement his side had shown as the year progressed had been great to see.
"I reckon that's probably the closest we've played to four quarters all year. It's a credit to the boys, it's taken 16 rounds but we're finally clicking for longer," he said.
"What we're doing works and now we're starting to believe it."