Lachie Bramble is hurt and now we're all going to die. Apparently.
Our first tangible taste of injury disappointment - but what do our Insiders think it actually means?
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As we twiddle our thumbs in anticipation for our opening game of the season against North Melbourne, we all wait with baited breath hopeful that no nasty new injury news comes to light.
So when the Hawthorn official injury report dropped last night, shockwaves were sent through the faithful as it was revealed that 2021 breakout and already cult-hero Lachie Bramble has suffered a foot stress fracture.
The news was concerning given that his pace, run and carry off the backline was a critical factor in our solid form in the back half of last season.
And with the likes of Jarman Impey, Will Day and Changkuoth Jiath all unlikely or questionable for round one, it begs the question - who will our half back flankers be and what is our best starting back six going to look like?
We asked our Insiders what they thought.
Ashley Browne
Starting back six:
BP: Hardwick FB: Hartigan BP: Sicily
HBF: Scrimshaw CHB: Jiath BP: DGB
So the news of Bramble’s stress fracture hit the interwebs just as I was settling into the opening chapter Dan Eddy’s excellent Peter Hudson biography, The Football Genius, which deals with the great man’s knee injury in the opening game of the 1972.
A quick check of the Hawks Insiders WhatsApp and you’d think Bramble’s foot was this year’s version of Huddo’s Knee. All sorts of doom and gloom, gnashing of teeth and sad emojis.
Yes, it is disappointing not to have him for the opening game of the season and likely, one or two after that. His run and carry off half-back was a feature over the second half of last season. With Impey and Day also set to be missing, that’s a fair bit of silk and speed missing from the back half of the ground.
But it’s a marathon, not a sprint for the Hawks in 2022. A back six comprising Blake Hardwick, Kyle Hartigan, James Sicily, Jack Scrimshaw and Changkuoth Jiath, who I think will play, is decent enough. DGB might get a berth as well. Pre-season best and fairest Harry Morrison will push back, as might Josh Ward if he plays.
It’s not ideal, and they’ll be a bit short-handed in the short-term, but it’s a marathon, not a sprint for Hawthorn in 2022. They – and we – will be OK.
Simon Morawetz
Starting back six:
BP: Sicily FB: Hartigan BP: Hardwick
HBF: Scrimshaw CHB: Frost BP: Howe
I’ve approached this thought experiment assuming the worst: that all four of Impey, Bramble, Day, and CJ are unavailable. I don’t need to explain to HI readers why five of the names above pick themselves. The big question mark is over that “other” half-back flank.
There were a few players I could have put there: Grainger-Barras is a natural defender, but he leaves us a bit slow and top-heavy. Finn Maginness has pace, but I’m not sure he’s too familiar with the role. Harry Morrison has been there and done that with varying degrees of success. Connor Downie would be a good fit but he also won't be ready for Round 1. I even considered Dylan Moore, who’s had good success when thrown into the heat of the game, but why rob yourself of an elite small forward?
Ultimately, I settled on Howe. He really won me over last year after I wrote him off following that awful game against Geelong. Since then, he’s shown he’s good enough for our best 22, and can flourish with increased responsibility: I’d go so far as to say he was best afield against last year’s Grand Finalists (that he didn’t get a Brownlow vote in that game was laughable). Surely he can have a similar impact against last year’s spooners.
Daniel Prins
Starting back six:
BP: Hardwick FB: Hartigan BP: Frost
HBF: Scrimshaw CHB: Sicily BP: Jiath
*CJ’s availability for round 1 is up in the air - I’m confident he’ll play but if he’s not fit enough to start, I think we’ll see Dan Howe slide into the back six to replace Bramble. They’re definitely not like for like by any means, but Howe is a proven ‘gap filler’ and can do a job in most areas of the field when asked.
It’s not inspiring, and I’d love to see a more exciting option chosen, but with Bramble, Day, Impey and possibly CJ out, we just need to get through the game/s and get our front liners back.
Andrew Weiss
Starting back six:
BP: Hardwick FB: Hartigan BP: Frost
HBF: Scrimshaw CHB: Sicily BP: Jiath / Howe / Morrison
I am in the same camp as Prinsy on this one. Our first five players all pick themselves and the question is really about who fills the final vacant half back slot.
It is so strange that only weeks ago we were talking about how fascinating it would be to work out our best defensive combination, and how on earth were we going to fit everyone back there.
And now fate has dealt us no Day, Impey, Bramble and possibly CJ - it is a little less than inspiring but I see us filling the spot with a stop gap for now.
If CJ is fit it has to be him - If he isn’t based on previous campaigns and the pre-season I’d imagine we would be going with Dan Howe or Harry Morrison.
But I’d love to see some creativity - putting Jaeger in a non-accountable running role at half back could turn him would be quite something to behold - worth checking it out against the Roos?
Our Followers
We put the question out on Twitter last night with some interesting suggestions.
Among them were Jack Gunston, Connor Downie (if fit) and we had multiple Josh Morris nominations:
Will be an interesting point of conversation at the selection table ahead of Sammy’s first ever win as the Hawthorn coach. 😉
Simon's back 6 looks abit too slow for my liking