Going the early Crow
An early Saturday afternoon time slot at the 'G reaped maximum reward as we stoned the Crows on our home turf
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ROUND 11: HAWTHORN 16.11 (107), ADELAIDE 12.8 (80)
📝 Main recap:
Another glorious day at the MCG as we celebrated in the Saturday afternoon sunshine.
We celebrated the 250th game of club stalwart Jack Gunston.
We celebrated the 2014 premiership 10-year reunion.
But perhaps more importantly, we celebrated the arrival of a football team. We have seen this building over the past seven weeks after a horrid five-game stretch to begin the year.
But the fruits of the labour — the benefits of the foundations that have been laid are starting to reap rewards — and it is a thing of beauty.
The hunger, intensity and desire is now palpable, but just as importantly the unity, camaraderie, passion and brotherhood is front and centre for all to see.
This group is playing together - for one another, and they are growing before our very eyes.
There was one moment on the wing that had the whole crowd up and about - screaming and applauding in unison as this was all wrapped up and gifted to us fans in the outer.
Things are looking rosy. And despite there being a few what ifs — what if we started the season better? What if we overran the Pies? What if we held on against Port? — things are looking and feeling good for now.
We have the Giants in Tassie next week before taking on the Tigers at the MCG heading into the bye. Win one of those two and the momentum will continue.
The good feels are coming back. The journey continues.
🧐 Things we like to see — Celebrations (I)
The lead up to Jack Gunston’s 250th was incredibly well done by the club - a special podcast, highlights galore and a real celebration of one of the great players from our recent Golden Era. So to see Gunston wind back the clock (again) on the field was a sight to behold, and to see the players swarm around him after each of his goals was super special. But this snap was probably the best of the lot. All the feels.
🧐 Things we like to see — Celebrations (II)
Can we continue with the Gunners love!? Seeing him get chaired off after a wonderful win in which he was a huge contributor also gave us that butterflies feeling. With great mate Luke Breust and captain James Sicily doing the honours, it was a fitting tribute for what has been one hell of a career.
🧐 Things we like to see — Celebrations (III)
Ten years ago. What a time to be alive. And how fitting for these premiership heroes to be at the 2014 flag 10-year reunion to witness the Gunston 250th celebrations as well. It’s photos like these that serve as a timely reminder of how lucky we have been — especially knowing that the good times are again just around the corner.
🕵🏻♂️ 12 observations from Ash
Rare day at the footy for Hawthorn people on Saturday although one that hopefully will be increasingly the case. After 15 minutes, it was clear the Hawks were the better team and something would have to abundantly change for them not to get the win. And Adelaide, winless at the MCG since midway through 2017 was not the team to change the script.
The win was set up with structure. Intercept markers have had their way with Adelaide all year and on Saturday it was Hawthorn’s group — James Sicily, Jack Scrimshaw and even Massimo D’Ambrosio — who got in early and repelled whatever came their way.
Sicily appears have found this groove again. When he intercept marks like that and then has time and space to put the ball where he wants, Hawthorn is a miles better side.
Remember all the doom and gloom of the first five week? All sorts of theories were being bandied to explain the 0-5 start but perhaps it really was down to just personnel. What is clear is what a gaping hole is left when Will Day doesn’t play, but what now also makes sense now, with the benefit of hindsight, was Dylan Moore’s slow start to the season due to his glandular fever. He took more than a month to return to full fitness, but what a player — and a leader — he has become. Good to see the All-Australian chatter has begun.
36,000 fans at the MCG on Saturday, but making the noise of twice that many when the Hawks were playing well. That roar when Ginnivan goalled in the final moments of the third term was guttural. And the general chatter was that how much fun they now are to watch. Ginnivan, CJ, Day, Newcombe, Chol, Weddle and Impey, just to name a few — all bring a fresh and upbeat tempo to how they play their footy. Watson as well when he returns.
The newly-minted Bratpack is an interesting phenomenon. There is a bit of “me, me, me” about Jack Ginnivan and he has to be made accountable when he doesn’t do the team things, but he is becoming a better and far more versatile player than he was at Collingwood.
CJ is front and centre of it and while his stats disposal numbers through three games are not off the charts — 24 disposals all together — his two-way running adds an important dimension. He will deservedly get a week for his ill-disciplined head-butt that cost the Hawks a goal, but if Bratpack CEO Will Day wants to direct his ire towards anyone it should be CJ. Against dross like the Crows, a reversed fee kick is an irritant. But against a good team it could cost a game. Pull your head in.
Interesting to chat to D’Ambrosio post-game. He has cut out the daily, 50km commute from Point Cook to Waverley and shacks up with Jai Newcombe — sensibly located nearer to the club — a few days a week. But the kids at the Point Cook under 14s have him as their coach. Lucky kids.
Jack Gunston deserved nothing less for his 250th game. Enjoyed his rare wander down media street in the lead-up to the game.
And well done to the 2014 premiership team who quite clearly, were having a good day watching the game. Can only imagine what the evening was like once those who were otherwise occupied during the day — Gunston, Breust, Mitchell, David Hale and Brian Lake — joined the festivities.
Adelaide versus Richmond on Thursday night footy. Yuck. Betcha if the AFL had its time again, they’d be putting on Hawks v Giants instead. Hawthorn’s improved form came one week too late to be considered for prime-time viewing this year. But I’m lobbying now for Hawthorn-Essendon in prime-time next year in round one.
And to echo what the coach said post-game. If those Hawthorn ‘supporters’ who directed their racist bile towards one of the players on social media are also visitors of us at Hawks Insiders, you’re not welcome around these parts, either.
⭐️ Best on ground — Dylan Moore
We think that one of our HI family members @philltee said it best with his Dylan Moore inspired post on X yesterday (see below). Not only did our small forward kick five goals, but he registered 27 touches, five inside-50s, 12 score involvements, and played like an absolute ‘warrior’. Probably leading the Peter Crimmins Medal right now and right in the frame to become our next captain. Incredible performance.
💫 Rising star — Massimo D’Ambrosio
Just four days short of his 21st birthday, D’Ambrosio put on another masterclass drifting between half back and the wing at the MCG. Twenty touches at 85% disposal efficiency with seven intercept possessions, nine marks, four rebounds from 50 and four inside-50s. But it’s his laser-like touch with his left foot that catches the eye — pinpointing passes all day to relieve pressure and put his teammates into damaging positions. One of the recruits of the season.
👼 Unsung hero(es) — Ned Reeves
Was on a hiding to nothing coming into replace Lloyd Meek who has been one of the form ruckmen in the competition over the past six weeks. And despite suffering a rolled ankle throughout the game, Reeves put in a mammoth shift against opposing big man, Reilly O’Brien. Our big man had 10 disposals to go with his 20 hitouts, managed seven score involvements, five tackles and kicked a wonderful goal from a set shot 45 metres out. A huge shot of confidence that could allow Meek another week to get back to full fitness — if required.
🤯 Under pressure — Changkouth Jiath
May have his hand forced at the tribunal after a silly head butt to the shoulder of Mitch Hinge, but the question must be asked around how he is going at the minute. Don’t be mistaken — we are happy to give CJ extra time to get used to the speed of the game since he has come back into the side and it is certainly easier to carry him when we are winning. But 24 touches in three games is well short of expected output for our dashing winger and was given a bath by Lachie Sholl on Saturday. Watch this space.
🪜 The ladder check-in
Let’s just worry about where we sit. Currently in 12th and on the rise, it’s the green circles with the Ws in them that has us excited. When you consider that the L was against the Power, thinks are looking pretty rosy as we continue to climb.
😡 Brad’s early call
🧐 The burning question — Was Will Day pumped up or in bake mode?
A few people were asking the question on Saturday regarding Will Day’s emotional outburst after Jack Ginnivan scored his goal on the three-quarter time siren… was he pumped up or was it a roasting? It would be easy to interpret as the latter given the freshness of the selfish Ginni miss in the third term where he had options galore but chose to blaze away at goal. But it was put to bed last night when Will Day tweeted about it — chill indeed.
🎤 Sammy said what!?
“I was really pleased that we kept the foot down for the majority of the game.”
“I think we are showing more and more maturity as a group, and the players have a great understanding of what our best looks like and now they are finally able to produce it.”
“We are at a point now where we should be more competitive against every side.”
“We know we have some work to do still, but certainly there was a little bit of extra evidence today that our best will hold up.”
🎤 And Sammy slams racism
"I love footy and I love our game, and I think the position we have as leaders of the community, we need to do the best job we possibly can around discrimination."
"We have some stuff – I don't want to go into it – but I just want to put it out there that if you have any form of racism in you, as a Hawthorn person, we're not interested in having you as part of our club.”
"So while we're all enjoying a fantastic win, and we should all be enjoying it, unfortunately some parts of our Hawthorn family can't enjoy it because of what heroes on their keyboards think they're capable of doing.”
"Any one of those who ever wears brown and gold, we don't want you."
🗣️ Final words — Massimo D’Ambrosio
Another week and another exclusive chat with a player in the rooms after a win. This week we nabbed young gun D’Ambrosio just days before his 21st birthday for a chat about the game.
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What was learnt:
1. The game plan is coming together – With the game at the ‘G, where we had been opened up earlier in the year, it was clear that that connection between backs, mids and forwards has been strengthened since the games earlier in the season. This is both because of player availability, but also the confidence gained in playing together for a significant run of games. It is reflected in the total disposals 358 for 63 inside 50s which also meant an efficiency I50 of 54%. When you think about the early part of the season as to the number of shots we took wide of the centre corridor, it certainly assists in kicking 100+ points in the past two games.
2. Whether it’s 17 or 7, the ruck position is well served – Whilst it is each to their own as to whether you prefer 7 or 17, the fact that we have two more than serviceable ruck options means that we should be able to have a midfield that will be more than competitive for the remainder of the season.
3. Clean centre clearances are “gold” – For the second game in a row, it is clear as to how valuable it is for the midfield to come out the front of the centre square to set up scoring opportunities for our forwards. I had 6 goals resulting from centre square takeaways. Admittedly, the Crows were missing their break away midfielder, but you can only beat what is in front of you.
4. The “Hawks surge” – Often, there is much made of the “orange tsunami”, the “Hawks surge” (whatever it may be called) will become a feature for fans to look forward to him the coming seasons with Weddle, Impey, Amon & Sicily coming off half back to provide overlap run. There is still some refinement to the final entry at times, however the dash through the lines is an exciting brand to watch.
5. “Kill the body and the mind will follow”/ “Failure cannot overcome perseverance” – Two lines Allan Jeans was known to share with his players, and this applied to the game yesterday with the level of tackling and pressure bringing the Crows to a level of indecision that we have seen ourselves over the past couple of seasons. This level of commitment would’ve been relished by the 2014 premiership players in attendance.
6. For Day to take the next step, it is his goalkicking that needs to improve – Having had three reasonable opportunities to hit the scoreboard for a return of one behind, Day just needs to be more settled in taking his opportunities. Running inside 50 with 3 bounces for no result isn’t reflective of his usual assuredness with the ball. (Note: A similar critique can be made of C. Macdonald, although he took a left foot shot this week.)
7. There is a time to play tempo footy – In the 3rd quarter where the Crows had some momentum, Impey was able to take an intercept mark from a Crows exit from their defence on the MCC members’ side; however rather than taking his time and allow the forwards and defenders to set up, he immediately kicked it forward which was intercepted which led to the defence being caught offside.
Observations:
• At this stage of his career, Dear needs to be hit up either on the lead or have a chance to launch at the ball; to drop the ball on top of his head doesn’t give him his best chance without a strong core to hold off defenders. His kicking is still a work in progress.
• Ginnivan had a day of mixed fortunes as has been well noted. What slipped by were a couple of his poor field kicking where he missed targets over about 20m.
• Mitchell confused “ambition and ability” on the one set play kick out opportunity; having taken the mark the thought that he could out race his opponent, only to be caught. He then went to ground “too readily” which left him open to the holding the ball (dragging it in) decision which was more a penalty for “stupidity” as the Crows’ opponent dragged it under him. At times, he is “overzealous” in his approach to the contest and just needs to take a more measured approach i.e. play the percentages playing as a defender.
• A couple of key plays by Frost deserve mention – a sweeping handball in the 2nd quarter rather than a kick showed some thought; and then in the last quarter, he ran about 40 metres to make a contest on Burgess who had been left off the chain in a Crows’ overlap run.
• Breust missing two snaps in the last quarter is not something you’d see all that often let alone on Jack’s big day!
• There may be some further credit due to the recruiters, although I’m not sure it was ever a genuine choice; however with the Suns looking to offload both Burgess and Chol last year, I’d suggest that if there was choice to be made, then the right one was made.
Starting 4:
1st qtr.: Worpel (21) Day (24) Newcombe (25)
2nd qtr.: Nash ((18) Day Newcombe
3rd qtr.: Worpel Day Newcombe
4th qtr.: Worpel Day Newcombe
(Reeves 22, Chol 9, Moore 3, Mackenzie 2)
(Note: A heavier focus on the Big 4 this week.)
Coach killers:
Giving up another shot at goal for an off the ball skirmish – with the depth of the squad improving, I doubt that Sam won’t think twice about wielding the selection axe for those who can’t play to the team’s benefit.
Issue for the week:
How long can Breust as sub be the selection strategy? With the manner in which Ward, Wingard, Watson and a few others played against Essendon for BH, along with their ability to play in other positions, will the need for greater sub flexibility become an issue for the remainder of the season.
Tremendous review again Mick. Watson was good today…creates a lot of forward pressure. The forgotten man DGB was very solid today too. Agree Reeves was very honest today but I’m a 17 fan. More strings to his bow. Mt quiet watch for a player of the future is Bodie Ryan.