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VELOCITY SPORTS NEWS

Whitecross' first win .. and wow!

Sunday, 12 April, 2009

Brendan Whitecross sampled victory in the AFL for the first time today ... and did it in grand style.

The teenage third-gamer had 29 possessions as Hawthorn broke a two-game losing streak with an emphatic 54-point win over North Melbourne at the MCG.

It was an exhilerating performance from the classy small defender, who had 20 possessionns in the first half when the game was 'hot', looking right at home in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of a game crucial to both sides.

Hawthorn were looking to rebound from two disappointing losses to Geelong and Sydney to open the season, while North was a club under pressure after it had been revealed in the lead-up to the match that their playing group had made an inappropriate video featuring a chicken involved in explicit sex acts.

Former captain Adam Simpson and leadership group member Daniel Pratt had been fined $5000 each after taking the brunt of the blame for an episode that was exposed when a young football department staff member posted the video on U-tube.

In the end it mattered little. Hawthorn were much the better side as they coasted in the second half to a 19-9 (123) to 10-9 (69) victory. And Whitecross, given huge wraps by television and radio commentators alike, was among their best.

As the AFL website reported, it was a bruising game, with North full forward Dale Hale, a fellow Queenslander, ko'd and taken to hospital with severe concussion. 

Jarryd Roughead starred with five goals as Hawthorn made the most of their opportunities. In comparison, the Kangaroos almost matched the Hawks for chances - 53 inside 50s to 57 - but couldn't make the most of their opportunities after being blown away in an incredibly fast second quarter.

Sam Mitchell was terrific, too, with 37 touches, Whitecross was damaging opposed to North small forward Matt Campbell, Cyril Rioli impressed by setting up numerous goals and Brent Guerra had an equal career-best 38 possessions.

For the Roos, Josh Gibson worked hard against Buddy Franklin, Brady Rawlings had 35 touches, and Andrew Swallow picked up 24 and laid nine tackles.

Match Details

North Melbourne         2.1     5.5      8.9     10.9  (69)
Hawthorn                   4.1    10.4    15.5     19.9 (123)

Goals: Hawthorn: Roughead 5, Franklin 4, Dew 3, Bateman 2, Morton 2, Williams 2, Mitchell. North Melbourne: Petrie 2, Thomas 2, Firrito, Campbell, Harding, Wells, McMahon, Jones.

Best: Hawthorn: Mitchell, Roughead, Franklin, Whitecross, Guerra, Rioli, Dew, Bateman. North Melbourne: Gibson, Rawlings, McIntosh, Firrito, Simpson, Swallow.

Umpires: Rosebury, Kamolins, Ryan
Crowd: 34,893 at Docklands