Selection Dissection: Dropping the anchor

Familiar territory awaits with the Hawks getting out of the Bellarine Peninsula and heading back to 'sunny' Launceston

Jul 11, 2024

Saturday, July 13, 1:45pm @ UTAS Stadium

What goes up must eventually come down!

What a disaster that was against the Cats. The loss was made even worse by the ACL injury suffered by Mitch Lewis. Lewis’ injury is absolutely shattering and this most recent injury will no doubt have a big effect on the morale of the playing group throughout the week.

Let’s hope the team can all lift for him and beat the Dockers, who are a side we have not beaten since 2019! Talk about a bogey team.

The positive

Stand-in captain Dylan Moore - Moore continued his brilliant form with another strong performance. The stand-in skipper finished with 26 touches, 4 marks, 6 tackles and 2.1. He deserves to make the All-Australian team this year.

The negative

There was a lot but as mentioned above, the ACL injury to Mitch Lewis was simply devastating. Fingers crossed for a successful surgery and hopefully Mitch can return fully fit and ready to go at the start of the 2026 season.

Looking ahead

The Hawks go ‘home’ to Tasmania, while the 3rd placed Fremantle will need to take a lengthy flight to meet the Hawks there. Forecast is cold and (mainly) sunny. No surprises there.

The backline

Our backline came crashing back to earth against the Cats.

It wasn’t entirely their fault, as the Hawks midfield was embarrassed on the spread, the importance of skipper James Sicily was clear to see. Hopefully Sic will be back this week from his shoulder injury.

If he’s unable to return, Jai Serong deserves another chance after a best on ground performance in the VFL. Unfortunately Seamus Mitchell struggled against the Cats and will be omitted this week.

The midfield

After a brilliant run of performances the midfield were taken apart by the Cats. From the opening bounce they were comprehensively beaten and bullied. Simply no excuses!

Lloyd Meek gave the midfielders first use all game, but they failed to take advantage and had no answers against their Geelong equivalent. Fremantle’s midfield is much stronger than Geelong’s so this week will be a massive test to see how the midfield bounce back. Serong, Brayshaw and Young are all elite whilst Matt Johnson is a quality up and coming player.

🗣️ The big question: Time to reward the form of the VFL mids?

Ward, Hustwaite and Maginness all had strong games in the VFL last weekend and deserve a recall. The issue is, there is no spot for them unless one of the current midfielders get dropped. Connor Nash had a poor game but after having a poor opening five weeks to the season and holding his spot, I can’t see it happening this week.

Nash will be needed against a strong Dockers midfield and will also help out Meek in the ruck. Harry Morrison may be the unlucky one this week if one of the VFL guys get the call-up.

The ruck

Meek finally had his colours lowered. I mentioned last week how Sam De Koning would cause Meek problems around the ground and unfortunately it happened. This week will be even harder against Luke Jackson. Jackson will take the #1 Ruck role this week with Sean Darcy out injured and that is bad news for Meek. Jackson is elite around the ground and also can push forward and kick goals. Meek should win the hit-outs like he did last week, so hopefully our midfielders can bounce back.

The forward line

A horrible day against the Cats for the forwards. It wasn’t all their fault due to the midfield being so soundly beaten (copy and paste). Lewis will need to be replaced, with Calsher Dear set to return. Jack Ginnivan won’t play again this week but is inching closer to a return. Hopefully he can make his comeback in the big clash against his former team next week.

The form of Jack Gunston and Luke Breust are massive issues. We simply can’t play both in the 22 anymore. Breust will need to head back to his sub role, while Gunston will need to perform this week or face being dropped ahead of the clash against the Pies.

Jasper Scaife and Max Ramsden are waiting at Box Hill for their opportunity.

What should happen:

Out: Lewis (injured), Mitchell (omitted), Morrison (omitted)
In: Dear, Sicily, Ward

FB: Hardwick, Frost, Amon
HBF: Weddle, Scrimshaw, Sicily
C: D’Ambrosio, Worpel, Jiath
HFF: Moore, Dear, Macdonald
FF: Watson, Chol, Gunston
R: Meek, Day, Newcombe
Int: Impey, Nash, Ward, Mackenzie, (Breust)

What will happen:

Out: Lewis (injured), Mitchell (omitted), Morrison (omitted)
In: Dear, Sicily, Ward

⭐ Ben Ronke of the Week⭐

I was close last week with my Shannon Neale prediction. He looked like Jonathan Brown in the first half and finished with 2 goals.

This week I’m going with Sam Sturt to kick 3+ goals. Let’s hope its not my boy ‘Yaeger’.

What do you think Hawks fans? As always, we would love your opinion on Brad’s selection decisions. Did he get it spot on? Or was he way off the mark?

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