As it happened: Freo snap Dees’ streak, Suns smash Hawks, Dogs embarrass Eagles, Lions overcome GWS, Cats breeze past Crows

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell spoke to the media after the game...

Q: Sam, clearances and contested footy, were you prepared heading into the game with these conditions?
A: I think we didn’t handle the conditions well and lost contested possession and clearances, which we suspected would probably happen, it was difficult to do that, but we lost the tackle count as well, particularly in the third quarter, so we lost some key aspects of the game. Really, the conditions is not an excuse from our point of view. That is not to the standard we expect. You can’t lose games by 30 contested possessions every time to the Gold Coast Suns, over the game. We knew that going into the game but were not able to execute to the level. So it was a disappointing night.

Q: In terms of the tackles, we know they kicked first with the footy, how much did you address and how much was a focus, given they had first hands on the footy, in the third quarter especially?
A: I think we tried to be a bit cute, so we invited a lot of tackle pressure. Not that the stats mean too much to some others, probably, but we had a similar amount of possession for the game, but minus over 1000m. We had 30 more handballs than them and gave away 10 more free kicks, which, if they can get 50m on average, that is 500m of ground, and it is very difficult to get the ground back when you are not going to be a strong clearance team. So we didn’t play with the discipline needed at key parts of the game. We couldn’t get any sort of control of the game. We didn’t lock the ball in the front half, for a five- or eight-minute period at the start of the third quarter, but other than that, they had us on the ropes, and put us away.

Q: Just then they were talking about some of the conditions and how they trained in the pre-season. How much of a factor do you think that was, the conditions, compared to you guys not having the experience?
A: Obviously they play in it a little more often, but that is far from an excuse for us. If that intent and desire was played at Gold Coast’s normal home ground, up on their home deck, I think they still would have got the job done against us. I didn’t think we were right at the edge... I didn’t look at the boys after the game and think we didn’t try. The boys worked hard, and they were fatigued, and all tired, and not feeling great right now. But they were able to think their way through the game a little bit better. They kicked it off the ground more often and knocked it on and they were able to take more ground and metreage off us. They were certainly smarter around the ball and kept their feet better, all the basics of the game that you talk about in under 12s.

Q: How much would you say the difference in the ruck affected this game?
A: It was difficult. (Jarrod) Witts is a fantastic ruckman against anyone, so we could have had our best ruck combination and you are still up against it against a player like him. We really struggled, and didn’t have a recognised ruckman available for this game. So we knew it was going to be difficult. I thought ‘Kosi’ (Jacob Koschitzke) and ‘Frosty’ (Sam Frost) battled away well in the game, but the defence was a bit leaky so we had to move Frost back, so we had to keep Koschitzke there, so it fell to (Conor) Nash and (Daniel) Howe later in the game which meant two others looked a bit better, but the midfield started to fall away. We were not able to get enough things right to trouble them at any stage during the game.

Suns midfielder Brandon Ellis spoke to Channel Seven after the game...

Q: Congratulations, what a win.
A: Thanks for having me, it was a great four-quarter effort. We spoke about that it would be an ugly game tonight so we wanted to surge the ball and take territory where we could, and it was a great four-quarter effort.

Q: I thought you were clear best on ground. You started off on Harry Morrison on the wing and going toe-to-toe running defensively and attacking, how did you find that battle? I think it was moved after half-time, but the first half was toe-to-toe and I thought you kept up your pressure and workrate for the whole game.
A: It was a good little battle between me and Harry. He is a fit little guy so I just had to try and stay with him. But it helped that our backs and mids won a lot of the ball and I could get some to,e on the ball and I could get some on the outside.

Q: You said you don’t mind the conditions because you were training pre-season and playing at the Gold Coast, very similar and you will use that to your advantage.
A: Definitely, we train all pre-season on these conditions, so it was no surprise that we performed the way we did up here, can catch teams off guard because they think it will be a dry game and sometimes it takes them a half to adapt.

Q: What have you found is different this year to previous years? You guys have been more consistent and play more contested style, I think you are fourth in the league. What has been the change between pre-season and now?
A: We are getting more games together as a group, probably had the same group together for the last three years, and you build connection every game you play with each other, so we are trusting each other more and trusting each other more and trusting the gameplan and the boys are delivering on their role.

Q: You have been a premiership player at the Richmond Football Club and made the decision to go to the Gold Coast, are you feeling like it is a club coming together and getting the pieces right?
A: Definitely. It has been a tough couple of years, but I think there is light at the end of the tunnell and I really believe in the direction this club is going, we have just got to keep putting our best foot forward. We have shown when we play four quarters, we can match it with everybody.

The Western Bulldogs had a club-record 16 individual goalkickers and find themselves on a three-game surge heading into a Friday night blockbuster against Geelong after destroying West Coast by 101 points at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

Led by a dominant performance from returning ruckman Tim English, a blue-chip midfield and clever stoppage tactics which appeared to confuse their opponents, the Bulldogs enjoyed their biggest victory over the bottom-placed Eagles, firmly regaining their groove, with recent wins against Collingwood and the Gold Coast Suns.

Click here to read the report.

Stuart Dew has again pressed his case for a contract extension after Gold Coast thumped the Hawks in Darwin on Saturday night, turning into the halfway point of the season with five wins for the first time since 2014.

Coaching against his premiership captain Sam Mitchell for the first time, Dew led his team to its third win in four rounds and, in the process, silenced the noise around his 2008 premiership coach Alastair Clarkson potentially taking his job in 2023.

Click here to read more.