Four to the Fore

Do we really have to wait FIFTEEN days to watch the Hawks again!?

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ROUND 3: HAWTHORN 10.16 (76), GWS GIANTS 9.10 (64)

Another game featuring the full range of emotions — both as a Hawthorn spectator and no doubt as a coach and player.

A pre-game full of hope, an opening quarter of disappointment, a second quarter of exhilaration, a third term of confidence and a final quarter of control and comfort.

This was a stirring win — not just because we were 35 points behind at the opening break, but because we held a quality premiership fancy in the Giants to just four goals after that point.

There was so much to be happy about, including:

• The rise and rise of Cam Mackenzie — absolute breakout game;

• Nick Watson reminding us that he is the best small forward the comp has seen since Cyril — and dare we say, is even better for his age;

• The best game of the season and top five career performance from Josh Weddle;

• Jack Gunston showing there is life in the old dog yet;

• The versatility of Blake Hardwick;

• Will Day’s second quarter; and

• The even spread from so many of our players - all playing their role and fitting into wonderfully coached football systems.

Key stats:

• Marks inside 50: +8 (14-6). We worked out a game style to suit wind direction (albeit after quarter time);

• Clearances were 5-10 at quarter time against, and we went 6-0 in this area in the second term. Finished the game all square at 33 clearances apiece.

• The Giants went +17 for clangers with a 61-78 stat line — we simply used the ball better; and

• 61-47 for a +14 differential for inside 50’s. Post quarter time this even more telling;

Remember that time we were 0-5 through the first five games of a season? How quickly things turn in 12 months. Four and zero, top of the table and having a laugh.

🕵🏻‍♂️ Danny and Andrew dissect it

🧠 Tactical Brilliance and Game Management

DANNY: It’s easy to jump the gun and judge the first quarter in isolation, but that wind in Tassie was fierce, and the Hawks had to battle through it early. Importantly, they made the most of their first opportunity with the wind, taking a lead into half time off the back of a Will Day-inspired second quarter.

ANDREW: Such an even spread of contributors, and it’s amazing to think we don’t rely on a Day or James Sicily to win a game of footy. It bodes well for injuries later in the year — plenty of depth and no reliance on any one player. It was a key feature of the game in Tassie.

DANNY: The structural adjustment after half time was incredible. Mitchell and his coaching team should rightly take a lot of the credit, but the execution from his players was near faultless. The connection between the coaching staff and players is immaculate.

ANDREW: Sam Mitchell can coach. And it was good to see how happy he was at the final siren — very aware of just how good a win it was.

DANNY: It’s wild to think the Hawks won this game when they went goalless in two of the four quarters. Their game management was first class, and despite not kicking a goal with the wind in the last, they never really felt threatened.

👏 Finn Maginness: The Ultimate Shutdown Role

DANNY: Special mention to the often maligned Finn Maginness.

ANDREW: Finn Callaghan had a huge opening quarter, and together with Lachie Whitfield, looked like he’d have a big say on proceedings. So the role Finn played after quarter time — not only putting the clamps on Callaghan but also getting plenty of it himself — was so underrated.

DANNY:

• Shut down Finn Callaghan ✅

• Get plenty of the ball yourself ✅

• Generally use it well when you get it ✅

⭐ Cam Mackenzie’s Breakout Performance

DANNY: Cam Mackenzie, welcome to the big time. This is the game Mackenzie had been threatening to deliver for a couple of weeks, and up against a strong Giants midfield, he delivered. 30 disposals in just 63% game time — that’s a heck of a statement game.

ANDREW: Mackenzie has the poise and balance of some of the greats in the comp. Once he grows into his body, he’ll become a midfield beast.

🛡️ Defensive Structure and Depth

DANNY: The team possession stats were similar, but the eye test told a different story. The Hawks were brave and calculated with their ball use, depending on the scenario.

ANDREW: Josh Weddle is such a unit and presence. He’s the big winner in the recruitment of JB and TB, which gives him the freedom to play like Sis and be an intercepting, free-running defender — and it’s great to watch. My only slight concern is Battle. Earlier this season, there was a question about how sure we can be that Josh Battle can be trusted ball in hand. He dispelled those thoughts through the first few matches, but a couple of errant disposals mean the question is back on the agenda.

DANNY: The Giants, on the other hand, were strangled into chipping the ball around their back half because the Hawthorn defensive setup was so solid.

🎯 Impact Players and Their Moments

ANDREW: Lloyd Meek kicking goals is always fun to watch — even though he did everything he could to miss his set shot in the second term! A brilliant string he’s added to his bow. Massimo D’Ambrosio is not yet living up to the season he had last year, but he’s been super important when needed. His third quarter was huge and, much like his second half against the Blues, reminded us of how good he actually is.

DANNY: Nick Watson is unreal. His impact per possession is the highest I’ve seen from a Hawthorn player since Cyril. They’re obviously different players stylistically, but their explosiveness is eerily similar. What a talent the Wizard is.

ANDREW: At the other end of the (age) spectrum, Jack Gunston has a role in this team. There’s no obvious replacement just yet as the leading half-forward/third tall in the forward line, and if he keeps playing like he did against the Giants, he keeps playing.

🧐 Things we like to see: Wiz x Our Jumper

Easy to talk about the baulk, the intensity, the craftiness, the footy smarts or even the fact that he is “captivating” as per Danny Prins in our Instant Recap Pod. But the thing we like to see, is the passion for the jumper - and it is the hallmark of an emotionally charged Wiz cele. Noting quite like the roar and jumper pull - credit too to Dylan Moore for instilling it into the next generation.

🧐 Things we like to see (II): Will Day can play

His second quarter could only be described as beast mode, and was unlucky not to have the two goals next to his 11 touches. But his poise, skill, ability to ride and weave through traffic is simply a joy to watch and why he is so critical as this midfield unit’s X-Factor. Brownlow votes already. And PCM votes too.

⭐️ Best on ground: Cam Mackenzie

Consistent as one of the few four-quarter dominant performers, Mackenzie arrived down in Tasmania. It was just the eighth time in 38 matches that Mackenzie recorded 20 or more disposals in a game — but the first time he has reached the tally of 30 making it a career best. Went at 76% disposal efficiency, had eight score involvements, five clearances, five tackles and five inside 50s — looked every bit a key part of our midfield brigade. You can officially pin your hopes on him being a brilliant player for us over a long period of time. Exciting.

💫 Rising star: Nick Watson

What a player. As alluded to earlier, he has all the pizzaz, guile and craftiness that puts him in the Cyril conversation. He doesn’t have to event touch the ball. When he is in the vicinity of the footy you know something is going to happen. The pressure, the contest, the skill, the whole package. But when he does touch the ball, he ignites the entire stadium. An enormous stat line that still pales in significance compared to the enormity of his impact:

• 21 touches at 85% disposal efficiency;

• Nine score involvements;

• Five tackles;

• 427 metres gained; and

• Only played 76% time on ground.

Special.

👼 Unsung hero: Finn Maginness

A common feature in our Under Pressure category over the past four years of Hawks Insider recap articles, credit where credit is due for our new #20 — he has had a cracking start to the season. Still very much a role player, Maginness is playing that role to perfection — against the Giants he finished with 25 touches at 72% disposal efficiency (you take that from him!). He finished with five inside 50s (equal top for the team), nine score involvements (equal second), 24 pressure (second) and two tackles inside 50. Role up!

🤯 Under pressure: Luke Breust

Pretty stiff to put Punky up one game as starting sub into his season. But with zero effect on the game when he did come on, with his fellow pensioner Jack Gunston having a solid outing, and with the likes of Jack Scrimshaw, James Worpel and Connor Macdonald to come back into the team, he must be no better than a 50/50 chance of staying in the team post the bye. Interesting watch.

🎤 Sammy said what!?

• “If we don’t bring our intensity and pressure around the ball then we can’t compete with the best, and the Giants are certainly in that group.”

• “I am enormously proud of the response — they jumped us and their pressure and intensity in the first part of the game was just a bit much for us to be honest.”

• “The response after quarter time — obviously the breeze helped in the second quarter, but then to be able to maintain that … I was really pleased the boys were able to respond and maintain the rage for the rest of the game after quarter time.”

• “They are a very good side — they are going to go a long way — everyone watches them and thinks they are pretty well drilled and to be able to beat them down here is really pleasing for us.”

• “I thought the players responded really well and their work rate and their work ethic and the belief really held us in good stead.”

⏭️ Next week:

A well deserved week off from the footy as we have the bye in round 4, but at 4-0 is it a good time to regroup and recharge or will it be a momentum killer?

Next up after a 15-day break is Port Adelaide in the final game of Gather Round on Sunday evening. Retribution — we are so much better already that we were in the Elimination Final loss against the Power last year, and now we have the chance to show it on their own patch of turn. No doubt it will be a major motivating driving force, and Adelaide Oval will be buzzing.

We’re coming for you Ken ✈️

👋 Some parting thoughts from Ash as we head into the bye

1. The Hawks have answered every question asked of them until now and the bye week can allow Sam Mitchell and his team the opportunity to reflect on the major progress since last season. The Hawks can beat you any number of ways but what has been most impressive to date has been their ability to reset and refresh through games and to wrest back momentum when required. Certainly in the Sydney, Carlton and GWS games, less so against Essendon, they have been seriously challenged at stages.

2. After a month, we can also look at the state of the competition and where the Hawks sit comparison to the some of the other early pacesetters. The aim at the start of the year is to finish top four after the home and away season and then reassess from there. But 2025 is shaping as a year when non-Victorian teams feature heavily towards the top of the ladder, so in order to maximise their premiership hopes — which, let’s face it, are now real — the Hawks need to aim not for top four, but for top two and the pair of MCG finals that comes with it. With eight straight wins there, it is becoming a brown-and-gold fortress and it holds the key to Hawthorn’s premiership hopes.

3. Based on Saturday night, I’m a believer now that the Hawks can win the flag, but having to win two finals on the road might be beyond them. At least this year.

4. Good not to get any injuries out of the Giants game for a change, but good luck to Sam and the match committee as they bring Jimmy Worpel, Jack Scrimshaw and Croc Macdonald back into the side in the next weeks. A few hard conversations will be forthcoming.

5. But what 4-0 also means is the prospect of some load management in the middle part of the season as long as the win-loss ratio remains strong. It will be tempting to give the midfielders a freshen up, and perhaps even Lloyd Meek, James Sicily, Tom Barrass and Jack Ginnivan if the opportunity affords. And the likes of Henry Hustwaite, Seamus Mitchell and Ned Reeves deserve a look in at some stage, while we’re also intrigued by Jasper Scaife. Keen to have a look at what they have with the fast-leading key forward before Mitch Lewis makes his return.

6. And after Gather Round, which will be massive, a nice home stand follows with three games at the MCG and another at Marvel, none of them at night. Many of the club’s 80,000 members are looking forward to a month of regular outings to the footy.

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