Hawthorn say forward Luke Breust has escaped serious injury after a sickening collision sent the three-goal hero of a big AFL win over Adelaide out of the game on a medi-cab.
Breust was hit heavily as his head collided with Adelaide player Brodie Martin’s hip late in the Hawks’ impressive 56-point win at the MCG on Sunday.
The 21-year-old Hawk was blindsided, not seeing Martin coming at pace off the interchange bench into a contest for a high, loose ball, and was cleaned up spectacularly as a result.
While Breust left the incident in a neck brace amid concern, Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said he did not appear to have sustained any serious head or neck injury, and was conscious and talking to medical staff.
But Clarkson said Breust was an unlikely starter for the Hawks’ next match against West Coast on Saturday – medical staff likely to err on the side of caution because of the severity of the head knock.
“He’s recovered okay – it was a pretty solid knock,” Clarkson said.
“He’s been speaking to the docs, recalls a lot of events through the course of the game and remembers the fact he kicked three goals and made a contribution for us.
“He’ll be okay which is pleasing. He’s perhaps a bit fortunate … he’s just rattled the scone a little bit.”
The Hawks put aside their Easter Monday dismay in losing by two points to Geelong in dismantling the previously unbeaten Crows 21.14 (140) to 12.12 (84).
Along with Breust, Lance Franklin also booted three goals and defender Josh Gibson was outstanding in an excellent four-quarter team performance to give the Hawks their second win in three matches this season.
Any fears about the Hawks’ focus after they threw away seemingly certain victory against the Cats had vanished by halftime against the Crows.
Hawthorn dominated uncontested possession to set up their win, built their lead at every change and controlled all aspects of the game in a performance worthy of premiership favourites.
The Hawks made the most of their possession glut to break open the match with five unanswered goals from the end of the second quarter to midway through the third.
When the Crows did venture forward, Gibson was unpassable on the last line – spoiling and tackling brilliantly and having a game-high 29 possessions.
Adelaide forwards Ian Callinan and Kurt Tippett booted three goals apiece, but Tippett did miss a couple of important set-shots which could have kept his side closer at vital times.
Crows coach Brenton Sanderson lamented his side’s inability to take their chances in front of goal, as well as the heavily lop-sided possession and tackle counts against them.
“They didn’t have many weaknesses today – they looked pretty sharp,” Sanderson said.
“We probably played in patches, and against the good sides you really get hurt.”
It was Sanderson’s first defeat in charge after his side had been unbeaten in winning the pre-season competition and their opening two home-and-away matches.