Selection Dissection: Sinking Ships

Outside of Collingwood, the Hawks and the Dockers head into this contest as the two most winningest teams in the last month plus of football

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Round 18 — Hawthorn vs Fremantle

Saturday, July 12 — 8:10pm @ Optus Stadium

This is it Hawks Insiders. This is the game! Win and we are playing finals in 2025. Lose, and we will be back in the pack, fighting to make the top 8.

This is a massive game! A season defining game, against one of our bogey teams on their home deck.

The last seven times we’ve played Fremantle, they have won six, including a 69-point thrashing in 2023, the last time we played them in Perth. After their loss to Sydney last week, the Dockers sit outside the 8, in ninth place, so this is also a massive game for them, so we must be switched on from the opening bounce.

Sam Mitchell will have some big headaches leading up to selection this week. Box Hill continued on their winning ways, with Calsher Dear, Mitch Lewis, Finn Maginness and Jack Scrimshaw all performing well and pushing for selection.

🛡️ Defence:

The captain James Sicily returned last week but had a average game. He really needs to stand up and perform this week. The Fremantle Dockers have a tall forward line, which may open the door for Jack Scrimshaw to return.

The issue will be “team balance”, because without Sicily and Scrimshaw in the side, the backline functioned the best it had all season.

Return of the Scrim?

The loss of Josh Weddle will continue to be tested big time over the next 4-6 weeks, as Sam Mitchell tries to get the right balance down back.

⚙️ Midfield:

The midfield had a poor game last week against St Kilda. If there is a repeat this week against Fremantle, we will get smashed. The likes of James Worpel, Josh Ward and Cam Mackenzie, if he holds his spot, must offer a lot more to support Jai Newcombe and Conor Nash, especially in the centre.

Use those arms to clamp down on Serong pls Conor

Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw are top-10 midfielders and must be stopped. If they have 60+ touches, we can’t win this game. Serong, in particular is a clearance beast but can be tagged, as we saw last week against the Swans with James Jordan holding him to just 11 disposals.

Sam Mitchell doesn’t like to use a tagger in the midfield, so Nash will need to play a role on Serong, especially in the centre.

🤾‍♂️ Ruck:

Lloyd Meek had a brilliant game in the ruck last week against Rowan Marshall and faces another massive test this week against the Darcy/Jackson combo.

Our back-up ruck will also need to play a massive role this week. It will be either Max Ramsden, if he holds his spot or Mabior Chol.

⚡ Forwards:

Mitchell is going to earn his $$ this week. Dear v Ramsden. Calsher Dear has been in strong form in the VFL and is ready to return to AFL action. He would offer more than Max Ramsden but can’t help out in the ruck, which will be crucial this week against the Darcy/Jackson combo.

I would look to bring in Finn Maginness this week to play a role on Jordan Clark. Clark is an elite half back and a key player for the Dockers. None of Jack Ginnivan, Dylan Moore or Connor Macdonald are capable of playing a defensive role on him to stop his influence.

Bring him in, and bring back the preseason facial hair

Mitch Lewis played his second game back from his serious knee injury in the VFL and looked great but will need a second full game in the VFL.

🤦 Ben Ronke of the Week

Isaish Dudley to kick three plus goals.

🔮 Selection Predictions 🔮

What should happen:

In: Dear, Maginness, Scrimshaw
Out: Ramsden (omitted), Mackenzie (omitted), Mitchell (omitted)

B: B.Hardwick, T.Barrass, J.Impey
HB: K.Amon, J.Battle, J.Sicily
C: M. D’Ambrosio, J.Worpel, H.Morrison
HF: D.Moore, J.Gunston, J.Ginnivan
F: C.Dear, M.Chol, N.Watson
FOLL: L.Meek, J. Newcombe, C.Nash

I/C: C.Macdonald, C. Jiath, J.Ward, F.Maginness, J.Scrimshaw (SUB)

Emg: S.Mitchell, M.Lewis, H.Hustwaite

What will happen:

In: Dear, Maginness
Out: Ramsden (omitted), Mitchell (omitted)

B: B.Hardwick, T.Barrass, J.Impey
HB: K.Amon, J.Battle, J.Sicily
C: M. D’Ambrosio, J.Worpel, H.Morrison
HF: D.Moore, J.Gunston, J.Ginnivan
F: C.Dear, M.Chol, N.Watson
FOLL: L.Meek, J. Newcombe, C.Nash

I/C: C.Macdonald, C. Jiath, J.Ward, F.Maginness, C.Mackenzie (SUB)

Emg: J.Scrimshaw, M.Lewis, H.Hustwaite

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