Player Ratings: Hawks vs Lions
You little beauty!
What a win down in Tassie against the Lions!
For the first time we don’t have any player rate under five out of 10 - and have dished out the highest individual mark for this season.
Who was the beneficiary? And whose game did you rate or see differently?
Enjoyable reading today…
Lachie Bramble – 6/10
A solid outing without being exceptional, Bramble again looked a mainstay of our defensive unit. Four rebounds from defensive 50 and three score involvements including two behinds, as he searched for an elusive first goal in brown and gold. Again happy to run with the ball - of the 10 running bounces in the entire game, Lachie had four of them. Already a fan favourite.
Luke Breust – 7.5/10
Fingers crossed that the injury Punky suffered in Tasmania is relatively minor and that it doesn’t eat too much into 2022, because again he was in brilliant nick before it. Kicked two goals in the opening quarter and had three for the match before being subbed out as well as eight score involvements - the second most of any Hawk on the day. Need him fit and firing in 2022 - an integral part of Sammy Mitchell’s team for the next few year.
Tyler Brockman - 6/10
Can’t quite put my finger on who he reminds me of. Good output for Brocky and will want to consistently be getting more touches than he can count on his fingers. But it is the stuff he does off the ball which doesn’t end up on the stats sheet that is so exciting to see, much like somebody else we used to watch play (what was his name again?). The pick of the day was his tap back through his legs in the second quarter, fooling two Lions defenders to running in the wrong direction, while giving Tom Phillips possession in space. Cyril. There, I said it. Gee does he have a few flashes that remind us of Cyril. Exciting.
Shaun Burgoyne – 5.5/10
Unsighted for large chunks of the game (manly because the ball spent so much time going inside our forward 50), but the main reason Silk is still getting a game was on show in the final quarter. As the Lions were rampaging home - which left us all a little bit nervous at times, he was the cool head and calming influence, barking instructions, taking an extra second to decide what to do with the footy, and controlling the tempo down back. Really hoping we get to see him in the flesh one more time when we take on the Tigers at the ‘G in the final round.
Sam Frost - 8.5/10
With seven marks and 20 touches, Frosty was at his intercepting, rebounding best against the Lions. This was thanks to an effective combined defensive unit where Kyle Hartigan managed to keep Joe Daniher pretty quiet, in tandem with DGB. With no Eric Hipwood it meant that Frost got to play the unaccountable third-man-up role which he excels at, and registered 10 intercepts while then always looking to take the game on.
Blake Hardwick - 7/10
Only 11 touches on the day - going at his usual disposal efficiency with 90%, but this was more about the job he did on dangerous Lions Charlie Cameron and Lincoln McCarthy. The motorbike revs only came out the one time, while McCarthy didn’t trouble the scorers, and Dimma effected six spoils on the day to be second behind only Ned Reeves in that department. Can’t recall his chest as puffed and spilling out of his top more-so than it did in the Launceston sunshine on Sunday - and absolute soldier.
Kyle Hartigan – 6/10
Didn’t really worry the statisticians too much, but history will say that he kept Joe Daniher pretty quiet with only one goal and five marks to his name. As mentioned above, his role meant the likes of Frost and Scrimshaw could play ‘unaccountable’ football, intercepting and cleaning up in the backline at will. Another tick in terms of the recruitment of Hartigan as the big man to take on the opposition gorillas.
Daniel Howe – 6/10
Another quiet second half, but Howe did a good job in the utility role once more - playing where needed across the ground. Hard to read where he fits into the future game-plan, Howe had 18 touches which included four score involvements but also four clangers. Four more weeks to press his case.
Denver Grainger-Barras - 5/10
Spent much of the day on Daniel McStay who ended up kicking four goals, so this was definitely a learning experience. Six tackles, five one-percenters and four spoils was a really pleasing effort and as a kid developing his craft, was clearly much better for the run. You can see his class with each touch and the way he reads the play - another player who fans and players clearly love seeing out there on the field.
Damon Greaves 5/10
Didn’t get much of an opportunity having come on as the medical substitute for Breusty, but did look assured when he came on. Just the four touches but all of them were effective and laid two effective tackles also.
Mitch Lewis - 7.5/10
Seemed to relish not having Kosi in the team, and having fields of space wherever he ran. Had the most contested marks of all the Hawk players with three, including a ripping mark in the third term where he beat Harris Andrews one-on-one with a strong grab that he duly converted. Missed an easier shot moments later before a head knock had him a little dazed for a few moments and it looked like he was seeing stars - we should see if this comes up in this week’s medical report given his boxing concussion not all that long ago. Had seven marks and played the role of the key forward well.
Ben McEvoy – 6.5/10
This is where it’s at. 60% time up forward and 40% time in the ruck - have been saying for weeks that this is the role McEvoy now must assume, and he is doing a good job of it. He had 16 hit-outs and didn’t register a goal, but behind Reeves was our next best player in terms of one-percenters. Interestingly he was thrown into the middle to try to stem the bleeding in the last quarter but it didn’t work, so he was rotated back with Reeves and put into the forward line once more. More of the same next week please.
Tom Mitchell – 8/10
It was the third game in a row (and fifth from eight) that Titch scored a goal, sitting nicely next to his 34 touches and eight clearances. Worked hard up and down the ground as evidenced from his five defensive rebounds and six inside 50’s. Seems to be revelling in the shared load with Chad, Worps and Jaeger all playing decent roles through the middle and has been duly helped but the contested ruck-work of Ned Reeeves. Another absolute untouchable in terms of the rebuild, and we think his next head coach may very well know what he’s got in his pocket with this ball magnet.
Dylan Moore – 7.5/10
Dylan Moore, loves a goal ©2021. Registered trademark of Darren C Levin. All rights reserved. For a usage rate card please contact Hawks Insiders via email. Another couple fo goals for Moore whose stocks continue to rise. Didn’t have a huge game numbers wise but impacted at the right times and worked hard up and down the ground.
Conor Nash – 8/10
Hands up if Conor is one of your scapegoats (🙋🏻♂️). Hands up if you have at least sympathised with the fact he has dominated in the twos in the middle, but then comes into the team and plays up forward (🙋🏻♂️). Hands up if you liked the Conor Nash that played in the middle yesterday (🙋🏻♂️). Possibly his best game in brown and gold, Nash was finally given his chance in the guts throughout the day, and added a different dynamic to our midfield group. Was hard, smart and tackled all day - in the top three on the ground with nine. 12 contested possessions in his 23 total, seven clearances and five score involvements - let him play the rest of the year through the guts and see how he goes.
Tim O’Brien - 6/10
Another slow start for Timmy with only four touches registered to half time. But he finished the day with 14 (at 85% disposal efficiency which is his clear strength) and a goal, and has become a genuine swingman. Looks so much better behind the play where he is not under pressure to take a contested grab, and it’s almost a shame that at 27, he hasn’t refined this role sooner. Can see him staying in the team in the role for the rest of the season.
Jaeger O’Meara – 9.75/10
I actually never thought Jaeger would get my highest score ever bestowed on a player, but here we are. What a game from our bullocking beast. Signalled his intentions early when he spoiled in a contest in the back pocket, before running the length of the ground, taking a good mark inside forward 50 and converting for our first goal of the day. Finished up with 35 touches (14 contested), 10 tackles, nine inside 50’s and six clearances. And in incredible news, it was confirmed by the AFL that Jaeger has overtaken Dusty for the best, most marketable and most effective fend-off in modern history. More please.
Tom Phillips – 6/10
What I have been saying for the past few weeks is starting to ring true. In games where we are disappointing and get hurt in the hunt and around the ground, Flip will be found out more often than not. BUT… when we are playing well, and winning well, his contribution will be important. Kind of like Brad Hill in that sense. Kicked another trademark snap goal among his 15 disposals and kept one of the best wingers in the competition in Hugh McCluggage to 20 which was a quiet day by his standards, so not a bad performance all things considered.
Ned Reeves - 7/10
Just love what Ned is bringing to the table. Had 31 hit-outs including 12 to direct advantage, and pretty much halved his ruck contests with Oscar McInerney. Importantly he laid seven tackles which in part explains McInerney’s 23% disposal efficiency, but he really brought the midfield unit into the game with his contested work. Attended roughly 60% of all ruck contests in a clear sign that McEvoy will continue to be used primarily as a forward - allowing the Big Noodle a decent run and crack at footy with Jaeger, Titch and Worps around him.
Jack Scrimshaw - 9.5/10
A friend of mine said to me that he believes Scrimma has actually surpassed the ceiling in terms of the football that clone Grant Birchall produced in the number 14 - based solely on his added ability to intercept mark. Obviously he needs to do it for the best part of a decade to become anything like the footballer that Birch was for us, but the case is an interesting one. Scrimshaw was solid in defence against Brisbane with a game high 12 intercepts, 10 contested possessions (of 24) and eight marks - of which three were contested. As always had brilliant reading of the play, execution by foot, and led the backline by example. Huge performance.
Liam Shiels – 6.5/10
A much better week for Shiels despite only touching it 18 times, but it was clear that what he did with it meant so much more. Went at 88% efficiency this week with five score involvements, and clearly enjoyed getting his footy on the outside given the contested work of our other mids. Felt like the club showed him all the copies of the footage I sent them when he just bombed it long needlessly last week, because he was much smarter with it in Tassie. A couple of smothers including a ripper on attacking 50 in the second term that lead to Chad Wingard tapping the ball to Luke Breust for his third.
Chad Wingard - 9.5/10
What. A. Footballer. Celebrated his 28th birthday from a few days earlier in style, treating himself to a day out and reminding everyone of just what a brilliant player he is. A lazy 32 disposals, two goals (including a magical check-side after falling over twice in the lead-up to it in the opening term), seven marks, seven tackles, nine score involvements and six inside 50’s. Great to back up last week’s elite performance with another, and with at least another good three years of footy ahead of him (injuries permitting) must be one of the first magnets on Sam Mitchell’s whiteboard.
James Worpel – 8.5/10
Cut and Paste. You see - they can play together! Worps has put together a solid showreel since the bye, and no doubt he will be enjoying his post-game analysis sessions at the moment. If Jaeger is the bull, then Worpel is his golden calf. Seven score involvements, seven tackles and five clearances to accompany his 26 touches. Kicked the sealer at the end of the day - his sixth game in a row where he has kicked a goal. Not scared to go in hard or to try to bust out of a pack or tackle, and is now working well with our core midfield group.