Selection Dissection: Prepare for a cat fight
The Hawks will need to get down and dirty to score a win on Easter Monday, that starts at the selection table.
Subscribe to Hawks Insiders for the best brown and gold coverage in the business - including exclusive interviews, analysis, match recaps, and pods.
Hawthorn v Geelong
Monday 1 April, 3:20pm
Melbourne Cricket Ground
After a disappointing loss to the Bombers in Round 1, there was hope for Round 2. Unfortunately it didn’t get any better. The tone was set in the opening 10 minutes of the game with a dire game style of “keeping’s off” and by quarter time the game was over. Two rounds into the season, change is needed and it needs to start this week.
The Easter Monday clash against Geelong is the biggest game the club will play all season and there are no excuses not to win this game. This Geelong team will have the weakest midfield we have played against the Cats in a long time. Most notably, it will be without Patrick Dangerfield, who has started the season in great form. Tom Hawkins is also playing game 350 - there will be no better way to ruin his day than by winning this game, whether it’s 1 point or 50, it doesn’t matter, just win!
A special mention to Blake Hardwick, who plays game 150 and Jarman Impey, who plays game 100 for Hawthorn.
Round 1 Takeaways:
Positives: Cam Mackenzie
The number 7 pick in the 2022 National draft played his best game for the club. He finished with 21 touches (15 in the first half), 4 tackles and 2 clearances. The quicker Mackenzie gets to 50 games, the better.
My negatives: The midfield 😬
There’s too many to list but the midfield unit is number one. After the debacle against Essendon in Round 1, their performance in round 2 was worse. Change is needed and fast. It’s time for Henry Hustwaite this week.
After listening to Sam Mitchell post game, there should be changes this week, especially in the midfield. Will he bring out the axe or back the same team one more time?
Let’s take a look at how we could line up this week.
The backline
Despite Melbourne kicking 14 goals, the backline didn’t play to badly. With how poor the midfield played, Melbourne could easily have won by 80+ points. A special mention to Sam Frost who has been our best defender this season. Geelong have one of the best forward lines in the competition with Hawkins. Cameron. Henry. Stengle. Miers and Close all quality players and hard match-ups. Ollie Dempsey has also impressed early in the season. Despite having 21 touches and 15 marks at Box Hill last weekend I can’t see Ethan Phillips coming in for this game. Frost will take Hawkins and Scrimshaw will get first crack at Cameron. After last years debacle hopefully we don’t see Sicily on Cameron. Seamus Mitchell was impressive for Box Hill and could be ready to return. I would bring him in and move Karl Amon to the wing.
The burning question
Who plays on Jeremy Cameron? Unfortunately we don’t have a good match-up for Cameron. In last year’s game he kicked 7 and played one of the best individual games of the season. As mentioned above, I think Scrimshaw will get first crack. Josh Weddle may also get a chance as he can go with Cameron up the ground. Whoever get’s the role is in for a long afternoon.
The midfield
Absolutely embarrassing yet again. Smashed in the clearances and around the ground. Change is needed and fast. The likes of Jai Newcombe, Connor Nash & Josh Ward have all performed poorly in the first two rounds. Henry Hustwaite deserves a chance and needs to play this week. Clean hands are needed and there is no one better on the list. Whilst Finn Maginness did a decent job on Clayton Oliver, his skills were below AFL level and he must be dropped.
The burning question
What is going on with Jai Newcombe? Newcombe has had a below average start to the season. He’s averaging 18 disposals, 2.5 tackles, 2 inside 50’s and 2 clearances. He is a big reason why our midfield has been struggling and simply put needs to lift.
The ruck
Another disappointing game from Ned Reeves. Whilst he matched Gawn in hit-outs, he once again had next to zero impact around the ground. 10 disposals. 1 mark and -12 meters gained (that’s not a misprint). He had 4 disposals and 0 marks in the second half, including 0 disposals in the last quarter. Lloyd Meek had a big game for Box Hill (2 goals, 15 touches, 6 marks and 26 hit-outs) and must be considered.
The burning question
Is two week’s enough for Reeves? After playing 21 games last season, I’m of the belief Sam Mitchell sees Ned Reeves as the clear number 1 ruck. Whilst he’s first two week’s have been average at best, I can’t see him being dropped yet.
The forward line
5 goals total for the match, including 3 in the second half against a Melbourne team without May and Lever, their two best defenders. A disastrous day for the forwards. A special mention to Nick “the Wizard” Watson who kicked his first goal. I like what I saw from Max Ramsden in the VFL but still think he’s too raw. I see him replacing Jack Gunston in the second half of the season.
The burning question
What is wrong with Mitch Lewis? Similar to Newcombe, Lewis has had a terrible start to season 2024. He had a poor pre-season and has carried it into the regular season. He’s kicked 2 goals in the opening two rounds and is struggling to adapt to the new forward line with Mabior Chol by his side. It won’t get any easier this week against a quality Geelong backline. Let’s hope a big bag of goals in just around the corner.
What should happen:
In: Mitchell, Hustwaite, Meek, Phillips, Morrison (sub)
Out: Reeves, Ward, Maginness, Gunston, Nash
FB: Hardwick Frost Scrimshaw
HB: Impey Phillips Sicily
C: Amon Worpel D’Ambrosio
HF: Moore Lewis Macdonald
FF: Breust Chol Ginnivan
R: Meek Newcombe Mackenzie
Int: Watson Hustwaite Weddle Mitchell
Sub: Morrison
What will happen:
In: Hustwaite, Morrison (sub)
Out: Maginness, Gunston
FB: Hardwick Frost Scrimshaw
HB: Impey Sicily Weddle
C: Amon Worpel D’Ambrosio
HF: Moore Lewis Macdonald
FF: Breust Chol Ginnivan
R: Reeves Newcombe Nash
Int: Mackenzie Watson Hustwaite Ward
Sub: Morrison
Injured (not considered): Day, Wingard, Jiath, Blanck, Grainger-Barras
Under the pump: Ned Reeves, Connor Nash, Jai Newcombe, Josh Ward, Jack Gunston, Mitch Lewis
What’s your take Hawks fans? Hit us up on the Substack and one Twitter and Facebook with your opinion on Brad’s should and will happen teams.
Don’t forget to listen in as the HI team goes live on Wednesday nights on X (formerly Twitter) Spaces. Follow us on and Facebook (if you’re into that sort of thing) as well.
Hey Brad, you're the new Kane Cornes, master of the big statement and over reaction.
1. The Easter Monday clash against Geelong is the biggest game the club will play all season and there are no excuses not to win this game - and how do you know this?
2. You're keen to highlight how weak Geelong's midfield is, but Dangerfield aside (and he was ineffective after 1/4 time last week), it's the midfield group that's beaten StKilda and Adelaide in Adelaide. Maybe it's better than you give it credit for?
3. What is going on with Jai Newcombe? Well, he's played just the 53 games, has only done three pre-seasons, he's adapting to life without Will Day and we're only two games in. Stop catastrophising about Jai.
4. What is wrong with Mitch Lewis? Similar to Newcombe, Lewis has had a terrible start to season 2024. Well, he has taken 12 marks in two games, so it's not a total train smash. With the introduction of Ginnivan, Chol and Watson, there's bound to be a teething period with the new look forward line.
As for your selection ideas. If we're reverting to Morrison, regardless of last week's game for Box Hill, we're clearly going backwards. Reeves did a pretty reasonable job against Gawn last week and it was only in Q4 that Gawn got away. Reeves needs support and not from Chol other than very occasionally - we really need to seriously think about Max Ramsden.
Take it easy mate and hope you enjoy the footy on Monday.
G'day Brad, thanks for the article. It was a good read and I agree with all the comments you have made. We're all hoping (and desperate for) Jai and Mitch to have big games Monday.
I'd love to see Ethan Phillips come into the team too. It seems to perfect game for him to come and take one of the tall forwards.