Four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson returned to the fold as Hawthorn celebrated their AFL/VFL centenary in style with a 65-point drubbing of Richmond.
Clarkson was one of the dozens of club greats among the 62,321 spectators on hand to see fan favourite Jack Gunston kick his 500th career goal in the Hawks’ 16.13 (109) to 6.8 (44) triumph at the MCG on Sunday.
Now coach of North Melbourne, Clarkson figured prominently in the pre-match ceremony, back in brown-and-gold for the day after being estranged from the club since his 2021 exit.
The 57-year-old joined retired greats Luke Hodge and Jordan Lewis, among others, to present the spoils of last decade’s three-peat when the Hawks’ 13 premiership cups were paraded for the crowd.
Sunday’s win won’t be remembered as fondly as any of those grand final triumphs, but was another box ticked on the path to a possible 14th flag.
The Hawks are 6-2 ahead of a clash with Melbourne in round nine, while Richmond (2-6) will look to bounce back against winless West Coast.
Tempers flared between Hawthorn and Richmond during their heated clash on Sunday afternoon
It came as Hawthorn claimed a huge victory against the Tigers with Jack Gunston kicking his 500th AFL goal
Hawthorn’s superior class and efficiency was on show as they proved far too strong for the Tigers, pulling away after halftime to post their biggest win of the season to date.
Jai Newcombe (27 disposals, five clearances), Massimo D’Ambrosio (30 touches, two goals), Josh Battle (33 disposals, 12 marks) and captain James Sicily (24 possessions) all shone, though the Hawks had many contributors.
After a dull opening, tempers flared in the second term when Sicily caught Maurice Rioli holding the ball and threw the Tiger to the ground.
Tim Taranto flew the flag for Rioli – gifting Sicily a 50-metre penalty and goal by shoving him over – while players from both sides piled in to the mele which continued for several minutes.
‘Tim Taranto came in to fly the flag for Maurice Rioli,’ Jason Bennett said to Channel 7.
‘James Sicily walks to within range of goal as things start to heat up.’
Despite the free kick being awarded, both players continued to scrap as Toby Nankervis began to remonstrate with small-forward, Watson.
Tim Taranto flew the flag for Rioli – gifting Sicily a 50-metre penalty and goal by shoving him over (pictured)
A mass brawl erupted on the field with players from both sides rushing in. The spat spilled over for a good few minutes before the players finally separated
The brawl appeared to have been started when James Sicily tackled Maurice Rioli but shoved the speedster to the ground after
Toby Nankervis and Nick Watson were seen clashing during the mele
Tempers also spilled over between Jayden Short and Jarman impey (pictured) as they exchanged several heated words
Nathan Buckley, meanwhile, hit out at Taranto for his part in the altercation, slamming the experienced Tigers star for gifting Hawthorn the 50m kick.
‘You can’t afford to let your willingness to support a teammate cost the team ultimately,’ Buckley told Fox Footy.
‘I understand the willingness to support a younger teammate, but you can’t afford to give the opposition this sort of finish.’
Sicily’s goal helped Hawthorn to a 34-point lead before Richmond kicked their first major through Seth Campbell after more than 52 minutes of action.
Things also spilled over between Jarman Impey and Hayden Short, who traded several heated words before being pulled apart.
‘As soon as Sicily kicked the goal, you could see a few more Hawthorn players jump in on it,’ Luke Hodge said.
‘It got very angry in there. I reckon there’s a good 14 or 15 fines getting thrown out.
‘But I don’t mind that from Taranto, who first initially stuck up and got into Sicily for what he did to Rioli — I understand that, no problems at all.
‘Yes, he gave away a 50, yes, he gave away a goal. But he’s sticking up for a young fella when Sicily probably pushed it too far after he got the holding the ball.’
Gunston reached his milestone in the third quarter, snapping his second goal for the day as the margin grew to 49 by the final change.
It blew out when Hawthorn finished full of running, kicking five goals to two in the last quarter.
Gunston and Hawks cult hero Watson were the best of the goalkickers with three each and Jack Ginnivan added two from 14 disposals.
Watson (pictured) was a standout during the match, kicking three goals alongside Gunston, while Jack Ginnivan added two from 14 disposals
The victory sees Hawthorn move to second in the table tied with elague leaders Collingwood
The Tigers have now slumped to 16th in the ladder having now failed to win in their last two matches
Taranto (26 disposals, four clearances) and Jacob Hopper (28, five) were the Tigers’ busiest on a tough day for the club, as they kicked their lowest score of the season.
Richmond defender Noah Balta returned to the sound of boos from Hawthorn fans after a week on the sidelines because of his court-imposed curfew.
It was Balta’s first match since being sentenced last month for assaulting another man on December 30 last year.
Balta limped off in the final few minutes after rolling his right ankle.