Selection Dissection: A big test out west
As Russell Coight used to say, 'it's time to hit the road', as the Hawks head across the Nullibor to tackle an inform Fremantle on their home deck.
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Hawthorn v Fremantle
Thursday 7 May @ MCG, 8:10pm
Well, that was torture against Collingwood. In the end, we take the two points and move on to what will be our toughest match of the season to date. The Fremantle Dockers in Western Australia.
The Dockers are definitely one of our bogey sides. We’ve beaten them just once in our last eight games and haven’t beaten them in Perth since 2018!
Selection this week is going to be an interesting watch. I expect a few changes with a few players sore and others simply not in good form. Box Hill have a bye this week, so this will not be a good week to be dropped.
The Backline
The backline struggled against Collingwood. The Pies, who do not have a potent forward line, managed to kick 15.3 from only 34 inside 50’s. That’s a big worry looking ahead to Fremantle this week. The Dockers have an elite forward line with quality talls and smalls.
Bodie Ryan will debut this week which is great to see. He’s been in great VFL form and deserves his opportunity. I think Scrimshaw will be dropped. Barrass will take Treacy, with Battle getting Amiss. There won’t be a match-up for Scrimshaw.
The Midfield
A strong performance against Collingwood last week, once again led by Jai Newcombe, who is putting together another stellar season. He deserves to be in the early All-Australian discussions. Newc is currently playing sore and is a big watch to see if he gets up.
Henry Hustwaite travelled and will come in, should the co-captain miss. A special mention to the youngsters Josh Ward and Cam Mackenzie who both had excellent games last week. The entire midfield will need to play well this week if we are a chance to beat the Dockers.
The Dockers midfield is elite and has incredible depth - Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw, Hayden Young, Shai Bolton, Murphy Reid, Matt Johnson and Neil Erasmus await. Serong and Brayshaw in particular have torched us in recent seasons.
The Ruck
Ned Reeves is officially the number one ruck and has clearly gone past Lloyd Meek. Reeves’s tap work this season has been elite and he’s also worked on his around the ground game. Last week he collected 16 disposals and kicked a goal.
(editors note: resisted the urge to insert image of Ned Reeves and Simon Morawetz here)
He’s going to be tested this week like never before against the unicorn Luke Jackson. This season Jackson is one of one playing as a ruckman, midfielder and forward. Meek is carrying a calf injury and like Newcombe is a watch this week.
The Forward Line
Let’s give Connor MacDonald some love. 28 touches and three goals for Croc against the Pies, who is putting together a breakout season. On the flip side, it was a horror night for the key forwards. The importance of Mabior Chol was on full show. Jack Gunston was held goalless while Calsher Dear and Mitch Lewis struggled to have an impact.
Dear will miss with an abductor strain. One of Will McCabe or Max Ramsden will replace him. I can’t see Schubert debuting after a quiet VFL game last week.
The Fremantle Dockers defence is incredibly strong, so this week all the forwards will need to stand up. Historically, these games have been low scoring, with only one team scoring 100+ points once in our last 10 clashes.
Ben Ronke Of The Week
Former Box Hill Hawk, Sam Switkowski to kick 3+ goals.
What Should Happen:
Out: Maginness (omitted), Scrimshaw (omitted), Meek (Managed), Dear (injured)
In: Butler, Ryan, Ramsden, McCabe
B: Hardwick - Barrass - Sicily
HB: Amon - Battle - Impey
C: D’Ambrosio - Ward - Ginnivan
HF: Moore - Lewis – C.Macdonald
F: Watson - Gunston - McCabe
FOL: Reeves - Newcombe - Nash
INT: Ramsden - Weddle - Ryan - Butler - Mackenzie
Emg: Scrimshaw - Nairn - Hustwaite
What Will Happen:
Out: Dear (injured), Scrimshaw (omitted)
In: Ramsden, Ryan
B: Hardwick - Barrass - Sicily
HB: Amon - Battle - Impey
C: D’Ambrosio - Ward - Ginnivan
HF: Moore - Lewis - C.Macdonald
F: Watson - Gunston - Ramsden
FOL: Reeves - Newcombe- Nash
INT: Meek - Weddle - Maginness - Ryan - Mackenzie
Emg: McCabe - Hustwaite - Scrimshaw
Under the pump
Finn Maginness had a great first up game against the Suns, but struggled against Collingwood last Thursday. Josh Weddle has been the talk of the Hawthorn fandom, and not for the right reasons. He would want a bounce back game on Thursday night.
In the mix
B.Macdonald, Will McCabe, Sam Butler, Flynn Perez, Aidan Schubert, Harry Morrison, Ollie Greeves, Cam Nairn
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I really want to be that positive person and have some faith in the boys, but they really are up against it in this week's game (sorry to say ... but more than happy if I get that wrong). With injury, soreness, travel factor, the purple army home crowd and Freo playing very good football, it's going to take a mighty team effort and perhaps some luck along the way to get the win (and of course, the goal accuracy factor will need to show a much-needed improvement).
I'm also a bit concerned about Newc who is clearly playing with a sore knee given he has worn strapping on it all year and the amount of ice he had on it after last week's game. I wonder if Sammy is considering managing him at all as he is our most important player in my opinion.
Thanks as always Brad for your weekly SD and I must admit, I did have a little giggle at your comment regarding the Noodle and Mora photo comment lol !!!
GO HAWKS!!!
I think you're a bit harsh on Scrimshaw Brad, he was in our best few players one week earlier against Gold Coast. Freo does have three tall forwards - Amiss, Voss and Treacy - and on occasions, Cox as well, so there is room for Scrimshaw. Very excited to see Bodie Ryan. Do you think there's any chance that we go in with Meek, Reeves and Ramsden?