Is Mitch Lewis our most important player?
What a difference a big key forward makes
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ROUND 6: HAWTHORN 9.11 (65), WESTERN BULLDOGS 14.10 (94)
📝 Main recap:
Let’s be honest. We’ve been good for the past two weeks but no one really gave us a chance against the Dogs, especially with the team (and commentators) fired up for #Bont200 and a forward line stacked with height and talent — from Jamarra to Weightman, Naughton to Lobb.
And yet here we are again talking about honourable losses. While a 29-point margin was an accurate reflection of the gap between both sides, we may’ve been writing about a win for a change had a couple decisions gone on our way at the start of the third quarter and if a rusty Mitch Lewis had kicked straight.
Either way, and draft picks aside, which bottom three side would you rather be right now?
Speaking of Mitch Lewis, this game was notable for our gun key forward’s return. And he showed exactly what we’ve been missing, clunking everything that came his way in a commanding return, which was only soured by some uncharacteristic misses.
Speaking of the other Mitch, he coached this game beautifully, using Conor Nash to quell the Bont’s influence, a combination of Blake Hardwick and Seamus Mitchell to nullify Weightman’s offensive threat, and bringing in debutant Josh Weddle to match up against the athletic Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.
All up there were five changes made with Weddle, other debutant Max Ramsden, Lewis, Josh Ward and Will Day back in the side. It’s strange talking about competition for places when you’re sitting in 17th place with only one win under your belt, but it says a lot about the health of our list when we have Sam Butler, Lachie Bramble, Cam Mackenzie, Connor Macdonald, DGB, James Blanck, Jacob Koschitzke and Lloyd Meek all waiting in the wings.
✂️ Snippet of the match #1: James Worpel
Banana-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na make those Doggies sing 🍌
✂️ Snippet of the match #2: James Sicily
James Sicily is a freak footballer. How many players can snap a goal off a couple of steps from outside 50 with a player lunging at his feet? F.R.E.A.K.
🍔 Ash’s key takeaways:
For the third time in four games, the Hawks made a good team work hard for the win. Given where the team is at, it was a reasonable day at the footy.
What a difference Mitch Lewis makes to that team. Nine marks till half-time and 11 for the game. Understandably, he was blowing up hard late in the second term and he showed considerable grit to run out the game. Hawthorn supporters have known all along how critically important he is to the side and on Saturday he demonstrated so. He and the team will only get better from here.
And it barely needs mentioning in a forum such as this, but here goes anyway. The Hawks are a bottom-three side — there’s no escaping that — but without Lewis, they were playing with one hand behind their back. It was poor journalism and perhaps even unprofessional for senior commentators to make sweeping calls about Hawthorn’s 2023 fortunes and list management strategy while ignoring that its most important player was missing from the line-up.
Having said that, there were glimpses of what the team is capable of with a decent key forward to kick to, so while even though the draw ahead is tough, there needs to be a few more wins going forward. Enough with the honourable losses.
The Hawks didn’t get the rub of the green when they needed it. Tyler Brockman was robbed of a free kick for an arm chop in front of goal in the third term, as should was Fergus Greene for front-on contact. Had they been paid and the Hawks converted, the margin would have been closer for considerably longer.
Greene picked the wrong day to have a quiet outing. He was desperate to play well against his former club but the occasion got the better of him. He was trying too hard. But he has been a fine acquisition and is entitled to a mulligan.
Brockman also had an up and down afternoon. His two worst games have come in Victoria. Perhaps he needs to follow his coach’s example and stay in a hotel the night before home games. Infant twins and a good night’s sleep are mutually exclusive.
Take a bow Conor Nash. He faced the unenviable task of running with Bulldogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli, who was the key reason why there was such a healthy 40,119 crowd figure at Marvel Stadium. But the Bont played his quietest game of the year with just 19 touches and was well beaten by Nash, who had 26 to continue his rich vein of form. Toss up between he and Will Day for the most improved player at the club this year.
We are all quick to get on to Sam Frost for his occasional brain farts with ball in hand but is it time to view CJ through the same lens. Guaranteed to get caught holding the ball at least once per game through making the wrong decision.
Gee that Cody Weightman is an exciting footballer … except when he plays against Hawthorn. Was taken to the cleaners (again!) by the Hawks.
Ned Reeves is back in the sort of form he was displaying last season. Reckon he went really well on Tim English. Still think he can be a top five ruckman in the competition in the next couple of years.
Chad Wingard is the new favourite whipping boy of Hawk fans, but his work rate and endeavour could not be faulted on Saturday. Things just aren’t quite working for him but not sure there’s much to be gained by dropping him. Nevertheless, a big decision is looming later this year.
Saw enough from Josh Weddle and Max Ramsden to think they’ll become good AFL footballers. Looking forward to seeing Weddle at the larger Optus Stadium and the MCG in the next couple of weeks where his speed and athleticism will be showcased.
Big Max Ramsden. Living out every Hawks supporters dream.
How does it feel to be 17th?
Fremantle next week is a very winnable game for Hawthorn, even in Perth. The Dockers are just going.
⭐️ Superstar - Mitch Lewis
Welcome back big fella, we’ve missed you! Lewis was quick to make up for lost time in his comeback, with the key forward marking everything that came into his zone. The Hawks have clearly missed his aerial ability, and while the kicking for goal was a little rusty, Lewis’ presence and leadership in the forward half was on full display. He gave Liam Jones a nigthmare first half.
💫 Rising star - Will Day
To be honest, this feels like cheating. Will Day isn’t rising anywhere, other than rising up the AFL’s best players leaderboard. Day is becoming a legitimate star of the competition and stepped back into the midfield like someone who had played there for 5+ years, not 5 weeks. Tick in the box for hitting the scoreboard along with Worpel and Newcombe. We love it when midfielders kick goals.
🤷♂️ Falling star - Fergus Greene
A dog of a day for former Dog, Fergus Greene. He looked up and about early, wanting to make an impact against the side that deemed him not good enough to play at the elite level. It fell away considerably from there. Dust yourself off and start again Ferg, because you have a massive role in the forward for the rest of the year.
👼 Unsung Hero - Blake Hardwick
When Dimma got home and emptied his pockets, out fell his keys, his wallet and Cody Weightman. Hardwick produced another stellar, but unheralded performance against the Dogs. Along with his tag team partner Seamus Mitchell, Hardwick blanketed the dangerous Weightman, limiting him to 3 disposals while collecting 27 of his own.
🪜 Ladder check in
The Hawks move off the foot of the table, due in part to three very competitive performances in a row, but in larger part to the ineptness (and ridiculously long injury list) of the Eagles. Don’t be expecting the first pick in the Mid-Season Draft, Hawks fans. That’s headed west.
🎤 Sammy press conference bingo
“They're a good side and we just couldn't stay with them.” ✅
"We've had to try to find a way to create goals.” ✅
"He's a beautiful set shot, I'm not concerned about his goalkicking.” ✅
“Their learning curve is extremely steep in game one.” ✅
🗣️ What they said - Ned Reeves
"Some of the stats showed us we were right in it, but we just lacked a little bit of polish going forward."
“We had a couple shots that we’d normally make that we missed.”
“Oh so good (having Will Day back). We love Daysy in the middle and he brings us so much energy, so much run, speed.”
“I think that midfield group is starting to gel really well now. We’ve got that really good core. It was proven today, they’re (the Bulldogs midfield) one of the best midfields in the league, and we took it right up to them. ”
🗣️ What they said - Will Day
“I think they’re numbers around the stoppage, it’s a big strength of their, their clearance numbers and by the end of it they just got on top of us, and wore away. We saw their class going forward, they were able to hit up some pretty nice options that I think we just couldn’t execute going forward.”
“I think the intent was there. We were really trying to go at ‘em and trying a few things to get back on top but when you try, you can almost try too hard”
“Changes us (Mitch Lewis playing) completely to see him up the field. Even some balls on his head that he’s able to just clunk. Takes a lot of pressure off the furthers further down the ground”
“Although we lost, there are still a lot of positives, especially those first three quarters. If we focus on those, and obviously take some things from the last quarter, and execution, we’ll take that into Freo and really go at ‘em.”
Another really good effort. Lot's to like
Give Fergus a pass.
Jiath needs a tune-up at BH. Would take Seamus over him at this stage
McDonald and CMac should come back for Harry and Wingard
Meek over Rama in the west. I liked his his game but he needs more time
Weddle was solid but suffered because we are undersized down back
Would rather see Naughton kick 4 goals on DGB than Frost. Bring him back.
I’m starting to think CJ is Sam Mitchell’s favourite……the axe won’t fall…… We need to see CJ’s spark again and I can’t see that happening at senior level after 7 games of sub standard performances. I noted a few of the boys overlooking him as an option on the weekend. If he wants to be a premiership player for the Hawks, he needs to create connectivity with the up and comers and that can happen at Box Hill….Scrimshaw is the only one who constantly looks for him and for some reason Scrimshaw is the Sub so not much help coming his way. I am a believer but for his own good Box Hill is a must…..