AFTER a somewhat sluggish start, Hawthorn booked its top four spot with an impressive five-goal win over Essendon at Windy Hill on the weekend. The brown and gold were technically in front at half-time by four points after being level at quarter time, but the general feeling was that Essendon had the upper hand in the game before the Hawks went to another level.

Hawthorn booted five goals to one in the second half and critically were able to capitalise more when going inside 50, kicking 5.4 compared to 2.10 from the first half. They restricted Essendon to just 1.2 in the same period during the 7.14 (56) to 3.8 (26) result.

Hawks coach Daniel Webster put the difference down to work rate between the first and second halves.

“I thought our work rate in the second half definitely picked up,” he said. “I didn’t think it was at the level it needed to be in the first half and especially defensively. We gave them too many uncontested possessions which I think they were well on top of in that first half.

“Lot of that type of stuff, just get the basics of the game obviously with the rain meant that the inside game was really important and our defence as well, because I thought we were moving the ball pretty well we just couldn’t get our hands on it enough. So I thought the way we picked up and really got to work in the second half was really pleasing.”

In-form goalkicker Aine McDonagh continued her fine season form with another three goals from 16 disposals and five marks, becoming the fastest player to kick 50 goals in the competition with 41 games.

“I think been talking about her every week just how good she’s going this year,” Webster said. “She’s very dynamic, she’s doing it in the air, does it at ground level. She set up a few as well. Her tackling pressure, she’s playing good football for us and its exciting to see.

“It’s no surprise to us because she puts in a mountain of work in her game and someone whose constantly trying to get better and find ways to be the best she can and score as much as possible for us.”

One big inclusion was the experienced Nat Exon, who was added to the Hawks’ list midweek to replace the mutually delisted Rebecca Clottey. Webster said it was important to have another stronger body on the inside who – as she did against the Bombers – can also play forward.

“She’s been training with us all year so once the opportunity came to be able to add her onto our list, it was pretty straightforward for us really,” Webster said. “Depending on how she went in the scrimmage I think was the big thing, and that type of player we probably have struggled a little bit.

“Without Bates and Hipwood in the midfield having that extra bit of depth there. Nat can play in multiple different roles and we obviously used her as a forward and then going inside as well.”

Hawthorn currently sits second but takes on the 23-game winning streak of North Melbourne next round to close out the regular season. A win will guarantee two home finals, while a loss will likely see the brown and gold have to play the Kangaroos for a second successive week. Webster said it would be a “good test” and that he was “super excited for it”.

“Can’t wait,” he said. “I mean they’re the games you want to play. “Think part of the challenges of teams coming up and trying to build their way up the ladder is getting gametime against the best teams. I think I might have mentioned it last year at some point that the traditional four kind of get to play each other every three to four weeks so they’re constantly getting a reminder of what their elite standard is. For us to get more of these games has been really good.”