WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n Gunston\u2019s first goal didn\u2019t come until the 14th minute of the second stanza, but from there the floodgates opened to see him kick seven majors across a 45-minute stretch.<\/p>\n The three-club player\u2019s match highlight came with his sixth major, which brought up the 600th of his 296-game career.<\/p>\n The 34-year-old\u2019s evening was made easier by yet another unfortunate injury to Bombers defender Jordan Ridley, who was taken out of the game just after quarter time with a foot injury.<\/p>\n Ridley, who is expected to seek a trade away from Tullamarine at season\u2019s end, has played just seven senior matches this season, off the back of only 19 in the two seasons prior. <\/p>\n First-year teammate Sullivan Robey was also taken from the field in the third term in pain, though the club are yet to publicly state any injury he may have.<\/p>\n Grimly for Essendon, the club had just two goalkickers all match, as Nate Caddy kicked three alongside veteran Peter Wright with his two majors.<\/p>\n Hawthorn goalkickers: Gunston 7, Watson 3, Day, Chol 2, Ginnivan, Morrison, Mackenzie, Impey, Moore<\/p>\n Essendon goalkickers: Caddy 3, Wright 2<\/p>\n THE 3-2-1…<\/p>\n 3. \u2018CREPT UP ON ME\u2019: GUNSTON STEALS SHOW WITH MILESTONE MOMENT AS DAY STARS<\/p>\n On Saturday evening, Jack Gunston became the 37th player in V\/AFL history to kick 600 or more career goals \u2014 leading his Hawks home to their biggest win of this year.<\/p>\n After a goalless first term, the 34-year-old tore Essendon\u2019s defence to shreds through his \u2018disconnected forward\u2019 role that continues to give opposition backs headaches. <\/p>\n A 45-minute rampage across the second and third term was where he bagged all seven of his goals for the evening, and saw teammates flood him with the milestone major as the three-quarter siren crept closer. <\/p>\n Speaking to Fox Footy after the final siren, Gunston revealed he \u201chated\u201d the \u201ccarry-on\u201d from his teammates when bringing up the feat, ever humble in his persona. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s something that\u2019s sort of crept up on me a bit,\u201d Gunston said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not a key forward, I\u2019ve been the \u2018third-string\u2019; for a lot of my career. It\u2019s something pretty special, and the boys gave us some good delivery today \u2014 so that was nice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe all bring something different (up forward). (Mabior) Chol\u2019s aerial and ground level is just as good as a small, and unfortunately Mitchy Lewis was out early in the game.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve worked hard on it, this hasn\u2019t just been an overnight thing. We\u2019ve worked hard, watched a lot of tape and given each other a lot of feedback.\u201d<\/p>\n Two final-quarter goals to Nick Watson saw the small forward finish with three majors for the night, while Chol and Will Day finished with two apiece.<\/p>\n Day\u2019s presence was felt from the get-go, with both shots on goal coming before the first break in an eight-disposal opening quarter that showed the competition his absolute best.<\/p>\n Additionally, it saw the midfielder register a goal for the fifth time in six matches at AFL level.<\/p>\n \u201cHe can lead them to a premiership if he can stay healthy; that\u2019s been a big \u2018if\u2019 over his career unfortunately. But today, he looks good,\u201d three-time Brisbane premiership player Jonathan Brown said at quarter time.<\/p>\n Around the ground, Hawthorn simply decimated Essendon at stoppage \u2014 scoring 6.1 (37) to 0.0 (0) from the source in the first half. Additionally, they registered 23 more handball receives than their opponents before the main break.<\/p>\n 2. DOUBLE INJURY BLOW HITS STARS IN FIRST QUARTER CARNAGE<\/p>\n As Hawthorn slowly began hitting their stride after the opening ball-up, one of their most recent re-signings went down bloodied after a tough knock to the head.<\/p>\n Mitch Lewis, who earlier this week penned a new four-year deal at the Hawks, came off second-best after tackling Essendon\u2019s Archer Day-Wicks in the opening term.<\/p>\n Coming from behind, Lewis\u2019 head appeared to hit the back of his opponent\u2019s head, leaving him dazed and wobbly for the best part of a few minutes.<\/p>\n After eventually gathering himself, the 27-year-old was flanked by trainers to come off the ground \u2014 ultimately turning down the stretcher which came out and offered to take him off.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are a man down, with Mitch Lewis taking that hit to the head with that tackle. He went for a HIA, but he\u2019s officially been ruled out of the game unfortunately,\u201d three-time premiership player Cameron Mooney told Fox Footy at quarter time.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just saw how wobbly he was after getting up from this hit. We suspected that we wouldn\u2019t see him again.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter signing that beautiful four-year contract, he\u2019s going to have to have a rest for the rest of the day and next week as well.\u201d<\/p>\n While the Bombers held a very slight advantage for 10 or so minutes of play either side of quarter time, their own Jordan Ridley was soon ruled out with yet another injury as his wretched run continues.<\/p>\n \u201cJordan Ridley is out for the game with that right foot; that\u2019s the report that\u2019s coming through from Essendon at the moment,\u201d Mooney added.<\/p>\n \u201cHe looked very uncomfortable at quarter time. He (also) went down to the rooms halfway through the first quarter, and hasn\u2019t quite got going again \u2014 he\u2019s out for the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Three-time Cats flag winner Tom Hawkins added: \u201cThat\u2019s a big loss \u2026 they can ill-afford to lose Ridley. He\u2019s almost the perfect match-up for Gunston as that disconnected forward way ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n In more concerning news, first-year gun Sullivan Robey was removed from the game in the third quarter after hobbling off the ground in pain. Archer Day-Wicks was also assessed for a blow to the torso at the start of the last term.<\/p>\n For the Hawks, veteran Tom Barrass was seemingly rested on the bench for the final quarter, though didn\u2019t look to be nursing any major injury.<\/p>\n 1. \u2018I\u2019LL TAKE HIM\u2019: DONS SKIPPER STANDS TALL TO CHALLENGE STAR HAWK EARLY<\/p>\n Having kicked multiple goals in 11 straight games heading into Saturday evening, Nick Watson loomed as one of many Hawthorn headaches for Dean Solomon\u2019s side.<\/p>\n But, on an evening which offered little to like for Essendon fans, the resilience of captain Andrew McGrath was to be admired as he clamped down on the 170cm small forward.<\/p>\n After a goal in the 22nd minute of the first term, Watson was well-held on the scoreboard; though partially helped by inaccuracy.<\/p>\n Watson celebrates his first quarter goal.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we are seeing is one of the best match-ups of the day in McGrath and Watson,\u201d Cameron Mooney said at half time.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re talking about Hawthorn kicking nine goals, you\u2019d be thinking Watson would be having a bit of a day out \u2014 but he\u2019s only kicked one goal.<\/p>\n \u201cMcGrath has held his own. I love that the skipper put his hand up during the week, and said: \u2018I\u2019ll take the most dangerous small forward in the game.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an unbelievable match-up, and right now I\u2019d say McGrath has done pretty well on the best small forward in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n After being limited on the scoreboard for the first three-and-a-bit quarters, Watson nailed home his second goal in open play before a third in the last 40 seconds of the match.<\/p>\n McGrath, in his first year at the helm for Essendon, has previously been criticised for his defensive efforts in 2026 but couldn\u2019t be faulted for his efforts on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/a>
<\/a>
<\/a><\/p>\n