The AFL's controversial score review system delivered another eyebrow-raising outcome during the second quarter on Friday night. Collingwood's Jarryd Blair soccered a goal from close range, but the ball appeared to have been touched by opponent Taylor Duryea – and was initially signaled as such by the goal umpire. However, the decision was sent for review, with the field umpire indicating the goal umpire's decision had been a goal. When the review proved inconclusive, the goal umpire's decision was taken, and a goal awarded – much to Duryea's dismay. Essendon's Brendon Goddard summed up many fans' feelings about the system with his tweet, referencing cricket's Decision Review System. "The goal review is a debacle," he wrote. "That was worse than any decision during The Ashes. The umpire went to signal touched and changed his mind."
Vote for your best three players from Friday night's loss to the Hawks in the Magpie Army Player of the Year Award.
2. Big guns back and firing
Hawthorn's three inclusions for the clash – Luke Hodge, Grant Birchall and Lance Franklin – had a combined 562 games' experience and eight All Australian selections. And it showed. The trio all impacted the game significantly. Hodge, wearing a protective glove on his right hand after just one week out with a fractured thumb, dominated across half-back, gathering 28 disposals. Birchall made a seamless return after seven weeks out with a knee injury, collecting 26, and Franklin, who missed last week with a hamstring niggle, continued his fine record against Collingwood. He booted 4 goals, taking his tally against the Magpies to 54 from 13 games.
3. Shaw's tough night
Collingwood playmaker Heath Shaw had a difficult night in the face of a tag from Brendan Whitecross. In his role as a defensive forward, Whitecross not only negated Shaw's influence, but also did plenty of damage himself. The Magpie backman tried plenty to rid himself of Whitecross, at one stage even going to Franklin. But nothing worked, and the final numbers were 20 disposals and 4 goals to the Hawk, with only 9 disposals to Shaw.
4. Hawks extend winning streak over Pies
It's not yet in the category of Geelong's extraordinary dominance of Hawthorn, but the Hawks' winning streak over Collingwood is starting to build. Friday night's victory made it five in a row, dating back to round one, 2012. Just as the Cats haven't lost to Hawthorn since the disappointment of the 2008 Grand Final, the Hawks haven't fallen to Collingwood since the heartbreaking three-point preliminary final loss of 2011.
5. Hawks' support for Blackwood family
The three children of murdered mother Kylie Blackwood ran through the banner with the Hawthorn team before the bounce, and club president Andrew Newbold has pledged ongoing support for the family. Mrs Blackwood was found murdered inside her Pakenham home on August 1, leaving behind husband Peter, son Chase, age 13, and twin 11-year-old girls Mia and Holly. "It's an incredibly sad time for the family," Newbold said at the Hawks' pre-match function. "We've invited them to training next week, and we've told them that our door is continually open."
