Selection Dissection: Round 14
Should you really change a winning team?
Hawthorn's grumpiest fan Brad Klibansky (@BradKlibansky) tells us who should be and will be picked for the Essendon game on Sunday.
Hawthorn v Essendon
UTAS Stadium, Launceston
Saturday, 3.20pm
What a difference a win makes! Well done to the boys for their great win against the Swans last Friday night. A special mention to Jai “Duke” Newcombe who had a record 14 tackles on debut. An incredible effort.
Moving on to Round 14 and a clash against Essendon, one of our arch-rivals. I am happy to cop finishing 17th for the year if two of our wins for the season are against Essendon.
The game has been moved to our “home away from home” in Launceston, which can be seen as both a positive and negative.
The positive is, we have a great record down south despite just about every game played there being as exciting as watching paint dry. The Bombers have also never played a game there, which will be a big advantage for us.
The negative is the club appears certain to lose a lot of money with the game not being at the MCG and us Victorian-based members and supporters losing out again in not getting to attend a blockbuster game.
Let’s move on to selection for this week.
The Back Line
Our back line played its best game of the season last week. A special mention must go to Sam Frost who comprehensively beat Buddy Franklin. Changkuoth Jiath also had a great game and returned to form after a few quiet weeks.
In the mix 🔄
Denver Grainger-Barras: Made his return from injury in a VFL scratch match and got through. We will see him before the end of the season, but not this week.
Damon Greaves: Was unlucky to get dropped last week, but someone had to make way for Will Day (how good is he, by the way!). With how strong our depth is down back, he is currently a good depth player.
The Midfield
Welcome to Hawthorn, Jai “Duke” Newcombe. What a debut. More importantly, he allowed Tom Mitchell to play 25-30% of his time forward and didn’t he play well. It was arguably his best game of the season. The midfield seemed to work as well as it has all season and will need to be even better this week against a Bombers midfield with guns in Darcy Parish and Zach Merrett. Unfortunately, James Worpel copped a one-week suspension (what a disgrace - both Michael Christian and Hawthorn for not challenging) and Harry Morrison suffered a hamstring injury, so there will need to be at least two changes.
In the mix 🔄
James Cousins: Seems to be the most obvious choice to replace Worpel. While his disposal is below average he is capable of kicking a goal, which is something we really lack.
Finn Maginness: An interrupted VFL season for the second season in a row has really hurt Maginness. He has predominately played as a tagger in the VFL this season and has done a good job. He just needs to work on finding the ball. Reading Sam Mitchell’s report from the VFL scratch match, he was quiet and won’t be considered this week.
Lachlan Bramble: Is it time for another debutant? Why not. Before injuring his hamstring, Bramble was in excellent form at VFL level and deserves a crack. A good chance to come in for Morrison.
Connor Downie: Like Maginness, a lack of VFL matchplay will hurt Downie’s chances of getting another senior game this week. We all had high hopes after his great pre-season, but he has struggled to have an impact at VFL level this year. Made his debut in Round 1 against the Bombers as the sub, will it be deja vu?
Jack Saunders: “Mighty Mouse” was one of our better players in the VFL before the season stopped due to COVID and was close to an AFL debut. A good chance to debut this week after impressing in the VFL scratch match on Sunday.
The Forward Line
All the forwards played their roles against the Swans last week and I can’t see any changes being made. Ben McEvoy playing more forward in recent weeks has been a good change and his leadership will really help the likes of Kosi and Moore.
In the mix🔄
Mitch Lewis: missed last week with concussion after friendly fire from Jacob Koschitzke in a boxing session at training during the week.
Emerson Jeka: Was dominating the VFL before the season came to a halt. Deserves to get a run of games in the back half of the season
Jackson Callow: Will ‘Clarko’ bring in a local Tassie boy for his debut? Would be extremely surprising.
Tyler Brockman: Where have you been? [ed. apparently at a funeral in WA] Was exciting in the AFL earlier the season, but has struggled at VFL level. He deserves another crack in the back half of the season. Our forward line lacks X-factor and Brockman can deliver.
Ollie Hanrahan: Had his chance before the bye. Not up to it. Will struggle to get back into the side.
The Talls 🦒
Oh Cegs. Why, oh, why did you have to have your best game of your career? Props to the big guy. He came in as a late replacement for Ned Reeves and played a monster game. 11 clearances! Huge. Despite Reeves showing great signs in his first two games, Ceglar can’t be dropped after his game last week.
In the mix 🔄
Ned Reeves: Rolled his ankle at the training last Thursday and failed to get up for the game against the Swans. He trained Tuesday and will likely play this weekend for Box Hill.
What should happen:
In: Saunders, Bramble, Brockman [if back from WA], Jeka
Out: Worpel (suspended), Morrison (Injured), O’Brien (Omitted), Burgoyne (move to sub), Morris
What will happen:
In: Cousins, Saunders (Debut)
Out: Worpel (suspended), Morrison (Injured), Morris (Medi-Sub)
Likely team:
B: Hardwick Frost Jiath
HB: Impey Scrimshaw Day
C: Phillips O’Meara Howe
HF: Moore O’Brien Wingard
FF: Breust Koschitzke McEvoy
Foll: Ceglar Mitchell Shiels
I/C: Burgoyne, Newcombe, Saunders, Cousins
Brockman (sub)
Tell us what changes you would like to see this week…