Selection Dissection: Brad's already warming up his vocal chords
Well, that didn't go to plan...
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Hawthorn v Essendon
Friday 13 March @ MCG, 7:40pm
“Season O…” Don’t make me say it… I’m not ready.
What a let down Opening Round was against a depleted GWS Giants. The only positive to come out of the game was there were no injuries and teams that have lost in Opening Round the past few years are 7 wins and one loss the week after.
To put it simply, this week’s clash against Essendon is massive. It may only be early in the season, but if we drop this game and start 0-2, there is no chance we will finish in the top six. If we can’t beat a depleted Giants and Essendon, who many are tipping to be bottom four this season, we will struggle to beat any of the top teams this season.
Following this week, our schedule is tough:
Sydney (MCG), Geelong (MCG) and Western Bulldogs (Gather Round) and also have Gold Coast (UTAS), Collingwood and Fremantle (Optus) all in the first 9 weeks. Brutal. No team will win the flag from 7th-10th, so finishing top six is a must.
There will be calls from many Hawks supporters to make big changes this week but it simply won’t happen. The coach has shown his loyalty to the players over the last few years and he will back them in again this week to get the win over Essendon.
The Backline
Arguably their worst performance as a unit over the last two years. Disorganised from the opening bounce and struggled to get their match-ups right all game.
Jake Stringer looked like Wayne Carey and could have kicked eight. Essendon’s forward line shouldn’t give our defence too many issues this week. Nate Caddy is a young star and Peter Wright is a good forward but Barrass and Battle should have them covered.
We need a lot more run and carry this week than we saw last week. Impey, Weddle and Amon will be crucial.
A massive congratulations to Blake Hardwick on 200 games. A brilliant and consistent player, yet somehow still underrated by many.
The Midfield
Panic stations! Despite it only being one game, our fears from the off-season and pre-season were realised against the Giants. The midfield is going to be a massive problem this season and there is no short term fix. Cam Mackenzie will return from his concussion and he needs to have a massive game and season. Josh Ward and Connor Nash were invisible last week and also need to play well this week.
Merrett, Durham, Caldwell, Parish and Roberts is a decent midfield. It has more depth than what the Giants had last week and we all saw what happened.
If our midfield play the same way as they did last week, we will not win this game. LIFT!!!
The ruck
As I said last week “Like the midfield, the ruck is looking like a worry to start the season”. Meek’s pre-season form carried over to Opening Round. He was well beaten by Kieren Briggs.
This week he comes up against a player most Hawks supporters would never have heard of, 10-gamer, Lachie Blakiston. This is not going to be an easy match-up. Blakiston is athletic and has a huge leap. He absolutely smashed Richmond’s Toby Nankervis is the pre-season and will trouble Meek this week.
We will need any advantage we can get in the middle this week, so I would be bringing in Ned Reeves.
The forward line
The forward line was serviceable last week. Gunston, Watson, Ginnivan, Chol and Butler all kicked multiple goals. Mitch Lewis is the one that really needs to stand up this week or he’s in danger of losing his place in the side.
Dear, McCabe, Ramsden and Schubert will all be in the mix to replace him in the coming weeks if he doesn’t start to perform. Mitch, it’s time to kick a bag!
Ben Ronke of the Week: Hussein El Achkar (who?) to kick 3
What should happen:
In: Mackenzie, Dear, Perez, Reeves
Out: Maginness, Lewis, Morrison, D’Ambrosio
B: Hardwick - Barrass - Sicily
HB: Perez - Battle - Impey
C: Amon - Ward - Weddle
HF: Moore - Dear - Ginnivan
F: Watson - Chol - Gunston
FOL: Meek - Newcombe - C.Macdonald
INT: Mackenzie - Nash - Scrimshaw - Butler - Reeves
EMG: Lewis - Maginness - Morrison
What will happen:
In: Mackenzie, Reeves
Out: Maginness, Morrison
B: Hardwick - Barrass - Sicily
HB: Amon - Battle - Impey
C: D’Ambrosio - Ward - Weddle
HF: Moore - Lewis - Ginnivan
F: Watson - Chol - Gunston
FOL: Meek - Newcombe - C.Macdonald
INT: Reeves - Nash - Scrimshaw - Butler - Mackenzie
EMG: Mraz - B.Macdonald - Perez
Under the pump:
Finn Maginness, Harry Morrison. Massimo D’Ambrosio, Mitch Lewis
In the mix:
Calsher Dear, Max Ramsden, Ollie Greeves
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I’m not convinced Meek was well beaten by Briggs, I just think our midfield was well beaten by the Giants midfield
I think the what will happen is correct. This game is an opportunity to test the ruck combo and decide if extending Reeves contract was a good move. Mackenzie has to play and I’m still a believer but it’s delivery time. I would have traded Morrison and Maginness 3 years ago!
Agree D’Ambrosio is under the pump and his credits are fast diminishing….Perez could be a good replacement. Also agree Lewis has to start staying in a game. He has good moments and teases but it’s now or never.