Hawthorn's Amazing Comeback and the AFL's Dirty Secret
Hawthorn's incredible winning streak continued this weekend, making it four wins out of four in the 2025 AFL season. They squeaked past the GWS Giants in Launceston by a nail-biting 12 points. But honestly, the game itself was almost overshadowed by something much bigger: the increasingly dangerous practice of players being *pushed* into marking contests. It's scary stuff, and it's got everyone talking.
A Concussion That Shouldn't Have Happened
The whole thing blew up after St Kilda's Liam O'Connell suffered a concussion. He was, quite literally, *pushed* into a marking contest by Richmond's Rhyan Mansell. AFL legends Garry Lyon and Jason Dunstall were furious, and rightly so. They weren't alone; plenty of people are calling for a serious crackdown on this dangerous tactic after similar incidents involving Sam Lalor, Brandon Starcevich, and Jordan Croft. It's just plain reckless.
Mansell’s facing a possible three-game ban, which shows the AFL is finally acknowledging the problem. But here's the thing: they’ve warned clubs before. Why aren’t we seeing more free kicks on the field? Why the inconsistency? It feels like the AFL is playing catch-up here, and frankly, that's not good enough when players' health is on the line.
The Hawks' Unbelievable Fightback
Okay, back to the footy. Despite all the off-field drama, Hawthorn's performance was truly remarkable. They were down by a massive 35 points at the end of the first quarter. Thirty-five points! You know how sometimes things just spiral? It looked like that might happen, but they fought back incredibly. It was a testament to their resilience and team spirit.
Tom Barrass described the conditions perfectly after the match – a "tornado" of wind made the game incredibly tough. The Giants, who started so strongly with Lachie Whitfield racking up 34 disposals and Jesse Hogan kicking four goals, just couldn't keep up with the Hawks' furious comeback. The wind made scoring unbelievably difficult, making for a wild, back-and-forth game that had everyone on the edge of their seats.
What We Learned and What's Next
Hawthorn's win cements their place as serious premiership contenders. Their ability to overcome such a huge deficit, battling against the wind, shows they're a well-oiled machine, tough as nails. As for the Giants, they’ll want to build on that strong opening quarter. They’ve got the potential, that’s for sure.
But honestly, the biggest takeaway is this: player safety. The AFL *needs* to crack down on this dangerous pushing in marking contests. It's not a matter of debate; it's a matter of safety. It's not just about the rules; it's about protecting players from serious, potentially career-ending injuries. Until there’s serious and consistent enforcement, this will keep happening.
