In winning the Hawks inflicted the Bulldogs’ first loss of 2018 in a game that was a dour scrap that failed to reach any great heights.

Continuing their early season trend of strong finishes to games, the Hawks outscored the Bulldogs 28-0 over the final 18 minutes of the match to prevail 9.16 (70) to 8.3 (51) at Wade Street.

It was a win of persistence by the Hawks, who in the low-scoring tussle were nine points behind during the final  quarter.

Despite having had double the scoring shots – 16 to eight – at three quarter-time, the Hawks led by just three points at the final change, 5.11 to 6.2.

The Bulldogs then made the early running in the final term with the first two goals through Jayden Burke, which came after a strong contested mark, and Harry Donegan, which was aided by a 50m penalty.

Donegan’s goal at the nine-minute mark gave the Bulldogs a 51-42 advantage after Shaun Knott had earlier in the quarter added a behind to the Hawks’ tally.

But the Bulldogs wouldn’t score again for the rest of the match as the Hawks, who after kicking just five goals for the first 99 minutes of the match booted a burst of four in a row in a 12-minute period to crack the game open.

Knott kicked two of the four, while Riley McIvor and Ben McPhee, who was influential in the final term, also slotted majors to propel the Hawks to victory.

It wasn’t an easy day to be an Eaglehawk forward given the constant butchering of the ball going inside 50, while the Hawks’ final tally of 9.16 included their first seven scores all being behinds.

Golden Square kicked the opening three goals of the game, one from Travis Baird that capped a four-bounce run from captain Jack Geary, with the Hawks taking until 11 minutes into the second term for their best player, Gedd Hommelhoff, to register their first. 

The Hawks later outscoring Golden Square 29-13 in the final quarter comes on the back of their previous two strong finishes in last terms against Gisborne (59-13) and Castlemaine (92-0)

“I’m really happy with how we ran the game out, but not so happy that we put ourselves into that position,” Hawks coach Josh Bowe said.

“Golden Square plays a really good brand of footy, especially on their home ground, and we were pushing uphill in that last quarter, so we’re really pleased to get the win.”

As well as Hommelhoff, who has grabbed his midfield opportunity this season, the Hawks’ best also featured Cam McGlashan, who copped a heavy knock during the contest, in defence in his 100^th game, as well as Riley Saunders, who was lively against his former team.

Golden Square’s best was dominated by players in its back half, including Will Lee, Braydon Welsh, who continued his impressive start to the season, and Michael Dalrymple.

Golden Square’s Baird and the Hawks’ Knott with two apiece were the game’s only multiple goalkickers.

“They were able to sustain their pressure for longer than what we were able to and we just couldn’t move the ball fast enough in that last quarter,” Bulldogs coach Bernie Haberman said.