Selection Dissection: It's time to make the Cats our Bunnies 🐰
Can we beat the Cats on Easter Monday for the first time since 2022?
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Hawthorn v Geelong
Monday 6 April @ MCG, 3:15pm
After 18 days off (shame on you AFL), we are finally be back in action for our biggest home and away game of the season, Easter Monday against Geelong. This is the game we always look forward to, yet most of the time, it ends in tears.
Our Easter Monday fixture against Geelong has been going since 2010, with 15 matches played. Geelong have won 12 and us just the three. That is not a typo. We have beaten them just once since 2018 and it was by two goals. It’s time for us to end the Easter Monday curse, especially with the in-form Western Bulldogs up next at Gather Round off a 5-day break.
We all know what’s coming! Atkins will tag Newc. Mullin will tag the Wizard. O’Connor will tag Moore. Weddle will cop attention. Sam Mitchell will have had close to three weeks to plan for this game and he knows what is coming. Let’s hope he has learnt from what we saw in the Preliminary Final.
Selection will be pretty straightforward this after our last game against the Sydney Swans two weeks ago. Box Hill had a poor performance against Geelong in the VFL last Friday night with no one putting their hand up for selection this week.
The Backline
Josh Battle is the key this week for us. Battle has started this season slowly. He will get the match-up on Jeremy Cameron and has to play well. In our last match against Sydney, he was taken off Charlie Curnow and replaced by Tom Barrass who was best on ground. We will not have the luxury of doing the same this week if Battle is struggling as Barrass will need to play on Shannon Neale. We have no other match-up for Neale, so Barrass will be on him all game.
There will be no Stengle or Dangerfield to worry about this week, which is a good result. The other two players that must be stopped are Gryan Miers and Shaun Mannagh. Both are elite in their positions and if afforded space 50-70m from goal, will punish us with their foot skills.
Midfield
Like most weeks this is where the game will be won and lost. After being embarrassed in the Preliminary Final, our midfield can’t have a repeat performance. Newcombe will be tagged by Atkins, which means it will be up to the likes of Ward, Nash and Mackenzie to have big games. Max Holmes is the key to Geelong’s midfield and must be stopped. I’m not sure Nash has the pace to go with him but has the size. He may be the best match-up we’ve got.
Bailey Smith will have 30+ but it isn’t a worry due to his poor disposal by foot. With Watson expected to be tagged by Oisin Mullin, I expect to see him play more midfield minutes this week to help break the tag.
The Ruck
This is where we can expose the Cats with Ned Reeves, especially in the centre. Geelong will likely go into this game with 20-year-old Mitch Edwards, who has played just the two games as their starting ruck. Mark Blicavs will spend time in the ruck as well. He was dominant in the Preliminary Final and needs attention.
The Forward Line
This will be a fascinating watch. Watson will cop a heavy tag from Mullin. I expect Mark O’Connor to go to Dylan Moore as well. Gunston, Lewis and Chol must all hit the scoreboard multiple times if we are to win this game. For Geelong, their entire backline revolves around Tom Stewart. He can’t be allowed to zone off and intercept all game like we have seen numerous times in this fixture. Jack Gunston is brilliant and playing a defensive forward role but can we risk that with the offensive form he is in?
Ben Ronke Of The Week
Ollie Henry to kick 4
What should Happen:
No change
B: Hardwick - Barrass - Sicily
HB: Amon - Battle - Impey
C: D’Ambrosio - Ward - Weddle
HF: Moore - Lewis - Ginnivan
F: Watson - Chol - Gunston
FOL: Meek - Newcombe - Nash
INT: Reeves - C.Macdonald - Scrimshaw - Butler - Mackenzie
Emg: Morrison – B.Macdonald - Ramsden
What will Happen:
No change
B: Hardwick - Barrass - Sicily
HB: Amon - Battle - Impey
C: D’Ambrosio - Ward - Weddle
HF: Moore - Lewis - Ginnivan
F: Watson - Chol - Gunston
FOL:Meek -Newcombe- Nash
INT: Reeves-C.Macdonald-Scrimshaw- Butler-Mackenzie
Emg: Morrison – B.Macdonald- Ramsden
Under the pump
Mitch Lewis
In the mix
B.Macdonald, Bodie Ryan, Max Ramsden, Will McCabe, Harry Morrison, Flynn Perez
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When you mention who we had in the team for our last win - it really does feel like a really LOOOONNNNGGGGG time ago. Time to break the losing streak me thinks!
Massimo also on notice. Using part of the famous speech from the late great John Kennedy “Do Something”
You are right Brad ,Ollie Henry bobs up against us .Even back in his Collingwood days would kick a clutch of goals ,so someone with intense concentration is required .Mitch Lewis's second half against Sydney was very good . He took 9 marks along with 17 disposals and some terrific defensive spoils .In fact the tackling and spoils in the last 10 minutes was reminiscent of 1988 Grand Final Second Quarter against Melbourne .