Selection Dissection: Putting the squeeze on the Orange team
The rampant Hawks hit the road again as the battle for a top eight position heats up
Round 21 - Hawthorn v GWS
Sunday, August 3, 1:10pm @ Manuka Oval
Here we go!
The final month of the home and away season is upon us and for the Hawks, every match a ‘final’. There is no better place we would rather be. Despite winning 11 of our last 13 matches, this team still find themselves out of the top 8. To make the finals, we must win a minimum of three, if not all four of our final matches.
Before we look ahead to this week’s massive clash against the GWS Giants, let’s touch on last week’s huge 11-goal win over the Crows.
The positive
Despite being down by six points at 1quarter time, we went on to kick 14.10 to 3.4 in quarters two to four. In previous seasons there is no way that would have happened. In 2024, we have been winning big consistently, which is great to see.
The negative
The first quarter- we were lucky to only be down by six points. Had the Crows kicked straight, we could easily have been down by four goals. Against better opposition like the Giants and Blues in the next two weeks, we can’t afford a slow start.
Looking ahead
As we look forward to this weekend, it is another massive game that could shape or break the Hawks finals chances.
The Giants are a pretty good side and will present a greater test than what the Crows did post-quarter time.
The backline
After a terrible first quarter, the backline continued their stellar form against the Crows. We have been incredibly lucky in season 2024 to have such a stable defensive unit.
This week will be arguably their biggest test of the season against an in-form GWS. Jesse Hogan is currently the best key forward in the AFL, while their smalls in Toby Greene, Brent Daniels, Darcy Jones and Harvey Thomas are all very dangerous.
The midfield
It was great to see the midfielders hit the scoreboard against the Crows with Newcombe kicking two and Will Day also kicking a great goal.
The Crows midfield was decimated without Dawson and Rankine and our midfielders did what they should have. This week will a completely different test against the Giants.
Tom Green and Finn Callaghan are the two players that will need to be stopped in the middle for us to win this game. Nash has the size and strength to play on Green and will likely get the match-up. Day versus Callaghan will be great to watch.
The ruck
Lloyd Meek played a decent game against the Crows but was beaten by Riley O’Brien. He faces another huge test this week against Kieran Briggs, who comprehensively beat Max Gawn last week.
The forward line
Our small forwards are currently the best in the AFL- Dylan Moore, Connor Macdonald, Jack Ginnivan, Nick Watson and Luke Breust causing opposition coaches’ major headaches. The GWS defensive unit is elite, especially with the return of Sam Taylor. Swingman James Sicily bobbed up with a couple late too.
🗣️ The big question: Does Jack Gunston return to play a defensive role on Sam Taylor?
When we played the Giants in Tasmania earlier in the season, Gunston played a brilliant defensive role on Taylor. While they have been playing well, neither Mabior Chol nor Calsher Dear have the capability to play the same role this week.
I would be moving Breust to the sub role and bringing Gunston in for Finn Maginness this week. If Sam Taylor is able to zone off and dictate play, I don’t think we can win this game.
What should happen:
Out: Maginness (omitted)
In: Gunston
FB: Hardwick, Frost, Amon
HBF: Sicily, Scrimshaw, Impey
C: D’Ambrosio, Nash, Jiath
HFF: Moore, Dear, Macdonald
FF: Gunston, Chol, Ginnivan
R: Meek, Day, Newcombe
Int: Weddle, Ward, Worpel, Watson (Breust)
What will happen:
No change
FB: Hardwick, Frost, Amon
HBF: Sicily, Scrimshaw, Impey
C: D’Ambrosio, Nash, Jiath
HFF: Moore, Dear, Macdonald
FF: Breust, Chol, Ginnivan
R: Meek, Day, Newcombe
Int: Weddle, Ward, Worpel, Watson (Maginness)
⭐ Ben Ronke of the Week⭐
Lachlan Murphy did nothing last week, but the Giants are a different story, they have two fantastic ‘Ronke’s’ who have haunted the Hawks in the past. Callum Brown tormented us last year, and Xavier O’Halloran kicked a career high in goals last time we met GWS.
This week I’m tipping ‘the helmet’ Darcy Jones to terrorise the Hawks on his was to three goals.
As always, we appreciate your opinion on Brad’s selection decisions. Did he get it right? Or was he off the mark? What changes would you make? Hit us up below.
Don’t forget to listen in as the HI team goes live on Wednesday nights on X (Twitter). Follow us on social media through the links below:
I’m not sure if we want to be playing defensive against the giants backline and Gunners as much as I love having him in the club hasn’t been hitting the scoreboard. We need someone on Taylor that can body him out and burn him for pace not sure gunners is our guy? Also If we could bring someone in to help swing Chol in and out of fwd 50 as a link up? This seemed to really work last week and we could potentially give them a new headache.
Pretty well written mate.
But would love to see Gunston called in for a defensive forward role on Taylor.
He done an exceptional job last time.
Anyhow, Hawks to win by 26 and Cmac best on with 3 goals