The Hawks trailed the Bulldogs by 11 points at half-time, before kicking eight goals to five after the break to win 13.12 (90) to 12.7 (79) and keep themselves in the hunt for a top three berth.

“Gisborne plays an attacking, fast style of footy, and if you’re a little off your game like we were early, they take advantage of it,” Eaglehawk coach Luke Monaghan said.

“In the second half our attack on the footy improved. Gisborne was more desperate in the first half and won the 50-50 contests, but the boys realised their intensity wasn’t good enough and lifted it after half-time.”

For the second game in a row the classy Jarrod Findlay kicked five goals for the Hawks, while BFL leading goalkicker Matt Gretgrix also booted five, including three in the pivotal third term.

Findlay, Brodie Filo, who spent most of the day forward, onballer Brodie Collins and Josh Ryan, who moved from defence to attack in the third quarter, were the best for the Hawks, while Monaghan also praised the effort of Tyler Miles in the backline in helping swing the game his side’s way.

Teenager Ryan Baker again played well for Gisborne, kicking four goals for the second week in a row, while Matt Knox and Ben Sonogan each bagged three.

Gisborne coach Rod Sharp described the effort of his side as “outstanding”, but was seething over an incident in which no free kick was paid when Liam Rodgers was knocked out in what he said was a sling tackle and confirmed would now be the subject of a complaint from the Bulldogs to the umpires.