HAWTHORN picked up its fifth win of the 2024 AFL Women’s season last night after fighting off a dogged Gold Coast to win by 13 points.

Speaking post match, Hawks’ coach Daniel Webster said that “it’s good development that we’re able to win in a gritty, hard contest like that, so I was really happy with the team” and that the match was “obviously a tough, contested game and scrappy with the wind, but good for us to get the win.”

In a rare momentum in the side’s young history, Hawthorn came into the match as overwhelming favourites, and seemed to deal with the pressure that came with that and from what Gold Coast dished out on field.

But according to Webster, favouritism is not a big focus.

“I mean whether we’re favourites or not, it doesn’t really impact us,” Webster said.

“We always look at the opposition around what they’re good at and what we think the opportunities are that we can get on top, and we knew Gold Coast is going to be a very contested side and they’re very good in there.”

One of Hawthorn’s best players last night was Eliza West, who ultimately kicked the match deciding goal in the final term.

“I think Westie’s very good in and around the contest and she’s strong over the ball, spends time over the ball, has really good hands to get it out to her teammates,” Webster said.

“So I love the way she plays and fits our group really well and she’s had a phenomenal season so far.”

One Hawk who has had a bit of a positional change in recent weeks is Mackenzie Eardley, who has swapped her usual role in defence for a role as a key forward, and Webster thought that her efforts last night were “pretty good again [in] tricky conditions.”

“Mac’s still learning the roles of forward and where to be positioned on the ground. The conditions are so hard in terms of should I lead? Should I wait and give a contest, get the ball out the back?

“It was really difficult to read even when the ball was kicked. I think there were a lot of drop marks and a lot of balls that just said getting out the back or different things. So I think for Mac it was probably a good learning for her as well, but she competed very well and works incredibly hard, and I thought her pressure actually was really good. That’s what we love as a tall forward.”