Hawthorn vs Melbourne Mega Preview
Accentuate the positive
You've gotta accentuate the positive,
Eliminate the negative,
Latch on to the affirmative,
Don't mess with Mister In-Between.
Ahhhh Bing Crosby. 1944 is when that song was written. About the same time as our last wooden spoon. Not quite.
But in these tough times, we really need to latch on to the positives - enjoy the small wins, and really focus on the little things - that’s what rebuilds are all about.
So regardless of the margin tomorrow, it is worth keeping this in mind, as we head to MCG to take on the competition measuring stick.
Here’s everything you need to know heading into the game:
Current Form
Last five matches:
Hawthorn: WLWLL
Melbourne: WLWLW
Last Start
It was a nightmare result however you viewed our last game, when we went down to Fremantle by a lazy 62 points in Launceston.
Nightmare because we got smashed. Nightmare because we lost at ‘fortress’ UTAS Stadium. Nightmare because CJ went down with injury and is out for the year - with other injuries to Jack Scrimshaw and Dimma Hardwick pre-match. Nightmare because we gave up what was a 10-0 record against Fremantle in Launceston.
There were some positives… Lachie Bramble put on some sort of display and might even earn himself his first career Brownlow vote. Sam Mitchell coached (but didn’t really) his first game at the helm. Emerson Jeka kicked his first and second career goals.
That’s about it. A game that probably need not be mentioned ever again.
The Dees on the other hand were super impressive in their 31-point victory against Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval. Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver absolutely dominated in the middle of the ground while Petracca, Tom McDonald and Kysaiah Pickett each kicked three goals.
It’s a win that cemented them in top spot on the table, and they had leaders on all lines of the ground with Max Gawn and Steven May also dominating.
At the selection table
Hawthorn:
IN
Mitch Lewis, Ned Reeves, Tim O'Brien
OUT
Changkuoth Jiath (Injured), Jack Scrimshaw (Injured), Jonathon Ceglar (Injured), Oliver Hanrahan (Medi-Sub)
Rain forecast all day with a top of 12 degrees on Saturday, so this calls for some tall timber. The Hawks have gone big with our club’s best pugilist Mitch Lewis back in the team, while Timmy O and Ned Reeves also come in at the expense of injured trio Jiath, Scrimshaw and Jon Ceglar who, it is believed has suffered from a getting dropped injury.
Melbourne:
IN
Nil
OUT
Tom Sparrow (Medical Sub)
Nothing to report at the Melbourne selection table, which is exactly where you’d want to be as a club sitting on top of the ladder in the final run-in to the finals.
History
Overall:
P: 166 W: 87 D: 0 L: 79
Last 5 games:
P: 5 W: 1 D: 0 L: 4
Last 10 games:
P: 10 W: 5 D: 0 L: 6
Record at the MCG:
Hawthorn - P: 372 W: 212 D: 1 L: 159
Melbourne - P: 1030 W: 537 D: 7 L: 486
Brownlow Votes - last 10 matches:
HAWTHORN:
6 - Brad Sewell
5 - Liam Shiels
4 - Jarryd Roughead, Jordan Lewis
3 - Luke Breust
2 - Jack Gunston, Jaeger O’Meara, Ben McEvoy, Josh Gibson, Shaun Burgoyne, Matthew Suckling
1 - Tom Mitchell, Cyril Rioli, Sam Mitchell, Lance Franklin
Melbourne:
6 - Max Gawn, Jack Viney
3 - James Harmes, Bernie Vince
2 - Christian Petracca
1 - Clayton Oliver, Nathan Jones
Last time we met
Round 5, Sunday 18 April 2021
Melbourne 8.6.54 defeated HAW 15.14.104
The Hawks jumped out of the blocks well against the Demons in round five this year, as we aimed to snap a three game losing streak. Luke Breust and Ollie Hanrahan each kicked two goals in the opening term as we took a 10-point lead into quarter time.
Despite only kicking one goal in the second quarter we clung onto a two-point lead at half-time, before a three goal to one third quarter saw us trailing by 10 at the final break.
A Dylan Moore goal 18 seconds into the last gave us a sniff before Melbourne flexed their muscles and turned on seven unanswered goals and eight of the last nine to run out comprehensive 50-point victors
Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara led the way in the middle with 32 and 27 disposals respectively, while Tim O’Brien joined Punky and Ollie with two goals apiece.
The umpires did their best to have an impact with the free kicks count finishing 27-15 in the Dees favour.
Fun facts:
👬 Tim O’Brien and Connor Nash have played in the same Hawthorn side 13 times and currently have a 7-6 win-loss record.
🔐 The game will be played behind closed doors with no spectators in attendance. Good time to remind you all that the Hawks are 2-0 behind closed doors at the MCG!
Jordan Lewis and Jaeger O’Meara are part of one of the greatest Hawthorn-Melbourne related gifs of all time.
+40 for metres gained. 🥉 The 4.3.27 opening term score we registered in round five this year was the third best opening quarter by an opposition team against Melbourne in 2021.
💪🏾 Shaun Burgoyne will become the first indigenous player in AFL history to notch up 402 games when he runs out onto the MCG on Saturday.
♻ Melbourne has lost to three teams this year - Adelaide, GWS and Collingwood. We haven’t lost to any of those three teams. We are clearly FAR better than people think (Settle. Down. Tongue. Firmly. In. Cheek).
😲 For those playing at home, Ash only ever tips us to win or lose by a margin of 10-points.
🤑 Do yourselves a favour… go and ask any Dees supporters that you know how they are feeling paying $1.04 in a match against an opponents rated a $9 chance. There are a few squeaky red and blue bums out there!
Hawks Insiders Tips
Ashley Browne: Melbourne by 36 points
Darren Levin: Melbourne by 16 points
Andrew Weiss: Melbourne by 17 points