Hawthorn's Taylor Duryea takes Mark of the Year contender against Gold Coast

Tom Naghten

Hawthorn's Taylor Duryea takes Mark of the Year contender against Gold Coast image

Hawks defender Taylor Duryea popped up with an unlikely contender for Mark of the Year on the stroke of halftime in their clash with Gold Coast in Launceston on Saturday afternoon.

Having spent most of his career as a backman, Duryea found himself at the other end of the ground with seconds on the clock in the first half.

The 27-year-old flew high on young Sun Charlie Ballard to bring down the grab.

As so often seems to be the case after a big speckie, the relatively easy kick proved too hard as he pushed it to the left for a behind.

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Check out the mark below.


On the scoreboard, it was the Suns who got off to the fast start, holding a 15-point lead late in the first term.

The Hawks were able to dry up the scoring in the second quarter and found their own outlet to goal, going into the main break with a 13-point lead.

It didn't get much better for the Suns as they went goalless in the third quarter as well, seeing Hawthorn take a comfortable lead into the last.

Gold Coast were finally able to break their duck in the fourth quarter, kicking their first final term goal in five matches.

It wasn't enough however as the Hawks ran out big winners, 96-43.

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten Photo

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.