If the first quarter was a wake-up call for East Wagga-Kooringal, the second might have been a warning to the rest of the competition.
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At Ariah Park on Saturday, the Hawks were outshone early as the Northern Jets made a flying start to their first home game of the season.
But the response after quarter time was devastating as EWK produced a 61-point quarter to set up an 18.17 (125) to 12.6 (78) win.
Buoyed by a strong crowd keen to get around the club after their win at The Rock last week, the Jets powered to 21-point lead by quarter-time, kicking five goals to two.
Assistant coach Len Haddrill was setting them alight in his first game back at the Park for five years and Hawks boss Matt Hard reminded his side at the first break that few football games are won without respect.
"It was a tough one. They jumped us. We couldn't touch the footy in the first quarter. They had good intent and they were up and about. Lenny Haddrill was very good and Jack Fisher and Matty Carroll was rucking really well for them. We were up against it early," Hard said.
"I just said that we probably didn't show them enough respect. We didn't look to defend first and we were probably second to the footy.
"To the boys' credit they lifted and we responded."
Did they ever. The Hawks' second quarter was simply stunning: nine goals to one; 16 scoring shots to two; a 54-point turnaround for a 33-point lead at half-time.
The game was as good as gone and EWK maintained control in the third, again keeping the Jets to one goal to stretch their lead to 46-points.
Chris Gordon again orchestrated the Hawks midfield while Ben Absolum's first game since a severe ankle injury last year was also important.
But it was another familiar East Wagga name who helped spark the turnaround.
"Danny Bromham got us going in the second quarter. He was in and under and winning some close footy for us," Hard said.
"Our back six were oustanding too and the midfield were good when we got going."
The Hawks were a little wayward in the last, kicking 4.7 to the Jets' five straight goals to keep the margin to less than a half-century.
After nine goals last week, clever forward Chris Ladhams kicked a cool half-a-dozen for the Hawks while Nick Hull (three) is also in double figures after just two games.
Matt Wallis finished with four goals in a second strong game, and Josh Avis kicked three.
New signing Dave Hand was disappointing up forward as Trent Garner produced another superb game at full-back for the Hawks.
As well as Wallis, Haddrill and Carroll, Paddy Bray and Chris Bell were among the Jets best.
They head to Barellan after Easter while EWK also face a local derby, at North Wagga for their annual Anzac grudge match.
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