The tune-up before the tune-up

The competitiveness was far more noticeable this week, as players push their respective cases to be in the 'jumpers' team for next week's intraclub match

Join us at our first ever Hawks Insiders panel show at the Glenferrie Hotel in the heart of Hawthorn on Wednesday, March 13. For tickets (NEARLY SOLD OUT) and more information click here.

The Hawks are a week away from their major intraclub match. That will be the final curtain raiser before practice matches against the Western Bulldogs in a fortnights time. It stands to reason that yesterday’s hotly contested match simulation meant a little bit more to everyone involved, with chances to impress Sam Mitchell becoming fewer and fewer.

Keeping that in mind, Hawks Insiders own track-watching guru

Mick Cowan

was front and centre to witness all the action as the Hawks competed hard against each other as pre-season training got closer and closer to the real thing.

Thursday 8th February

Rehab and recovery

Before we get into the content that everyone wants to read, it is important to know that not every player on Hawthorn’s list was available for today’s match simulation. The rehab group consisted of Chad Wingard and Clay Tucker, with Luke Breust and Jack Gunston joining in after the initial warm up drills. Breust returned to one of the ball movement drills, but that was it for him.

Did not participate

Bailey MacDonald, Cooper Stephens and reigning Peter Crimmins Medalist Will Day (complete with moon boot & crutch) all came down late in the session in runners and training t-shirts.

Match simulation

After a regular set of warm up drills and a full ground ball movement drill, the group broke into two squads for what was to become the most serious match sim activity as yet.  They played four 20 minute quarters with a 2 minute drinks break at the 10 minute mark, given there were no water carriers.  Prior to the match sim, Mitchell and David Hale looked to be chatting to the AFL umpires about the new ruck rule - ruckmen being able to extend their arm.

Teams were broken into what we have dubbed ‘jumpers’ and ‘tops’

Jumpers: Ned Reeves, Mabior Chol, Denver Grainger Barras, Sam Frost, Jai Newcombe, Will McCabe, Massimo D'Ambrosio, Jack Ginnivan, Bodie Ryan, Jai Serong, Josh Ward, Mitch Lewis, Blake Hardwick, Connor MacDonald, Dylan Moore, Nick Watson, Finn Maginness, Conor Nash and Seamus Mitchell

Tops: James Blanck, Jarman Impey, Jack O'Sullivan, Josh Weddle, James Sicily, Lloyd Meek, Harry Morrison, Sam Butler, James Worpel, Jack Scrimshaw, Cam Mackenzie, Henry Hustwaite, Karl Amon, Max Ramsden, Changkouth Jiath, Calsher Dear, Josh Bennetts

(with 4-5 top up players)

First Quarter

(Gunston & Breust coaching while Mitchell ran laps)

The match ups to start the contest were (Tops/Jumpers)

• Blanck/Lewis

• Scrimshaw/Chol

• Sicily/Watson

• Amon/Ginnivan

• Weddle/Hardwick

• Impey/Moore

• Meek/Reeves

• (Wings) Jiath/C. MacDonald & Morrison/D'Ambrosio

• (Mids) Worpel/Nash; Mackenzie/Newcombe; Ward/Hustwaite

• Dear/Frost

• Bennetts/McCabe

• Ramsden/DGB

• Butler/Serong

• O'Sullivan/Ryan

(Top ups)

The tops looked to have the better of the quarter early with James Worpel as the dominant midfielder and Sam Butler looking lively forward, but butchered a couple of his opportunities.  Jai Serong started well off half back for the jumpers.  Dylan Moore was pushed into the midfield as part of a rotation.  

After the drinks break, Josh Weddle went off for treatment (breathe Hawks fans, there was no issue as he returned later), the interesting point was that Serong changed sides and took his spot at half back for the tops.

Lloyd Meek went forward and took a strong mark against Denver Grainger Barras. Off-season recruit Mabior Chol also had a run in the ruck with Ned Reeves moving forward.

Father/Son prospect Calsher Dear was running to the right spots and making himself a good target, however his execution and awareness of time and space is still a work in progress (for example, after making a good lead on the forward flank, he missed a chance to hit a teammate who was 20m clear near the top of the goal square)

Moore went to the wing at one point, showcasing his versatility. Henry Hustwaite had the wind taken out of him by a fierce tackle, which led to Butler going to centre square contests. Karl Amon also went into the centre square on a couple of occasions.

There was some willingness in the contest with off the ball frees and some wrestling contests breaking out, along with some chirpiness. The Unsociable Hawks are back.

Second Quarter

Seamus Mitchell came on and Bodie Ryan came off, and it was clear that there was more interchanges in this quarter as coaches ensured player weren’t overworked. Weddle came back on and Serong went back to the his original team, the tops. A few of the notable match ups were:

• Impey/Watson

• C. Macdonald started in the centre square

• Ward (on CJ) & Maginness (on Morrison) moved to wings

A couple of times, Blake Hardwick pushed up to be the extra midfielder when there was a secondary bounce. Hardwick also hit livewire draftee Nick Watson with a piercing pass after marking on the 50m line.

Max Ramsden missed the chance for a strong mark about 15m out having made up ground to the contest, but was quick to refocus and was able to snap a goal from the ground ball. Watson managed to knocked the wind out of himself at one stage, making a contest just outside the 50m line.

Changkouth Jiath’s time in Dubai seems to have paid off, and he was good at pushing back to help the defenders and then provide run off half back.  His disposal and decision making was sound. Meek's ground work in the centre square was impressive.

Conor Nash, as usual, was taking no prisoners - with Dear lucky to have his ribs intact after a crunching tackle before the half time break.

Third Quarter

Finn Maginness pushed forward from the wing to make himself a target inside 50 and then followed it up with a nice pass inside 50. Moore went into the centre square on a couple of occasions.

Despite serious progress this off-season, Cam Mackenzie's spatial awareness still needs some work to get to AFL level - he can be run down or run himself into trouble at times.  He has the habit of looking to get back on to his right foot rather than taking a left side option.  

Josh Ward used his right foot to set up a couple of inside 50s on a few occasions.  He was also strong with his inside work and appeared to have a better capacity to stand in the tackle with an ability to distribute the ball. Are we looking at our early season Will Day replacement?

• Meek was clever with some smart forward craft to set up a scoring opportunity

• Jack O'Sullivan did a couple of creative things to remind others that there were a few more small forward options outside of Ginnivan and Watson

• Jiath was evasive in close quarters and showed that he is light on his feet.  More importantly, he took the right options when under pressure

Fourth Quarter

• Jiath’s work was done and was rested part way through the quarter.

• Chol did a bit more ruck work as the rotations became more frequent

• In the last two minutes, Hardwick went to the wing and then pushed back (It will be interesting to know if this was a match strategy role trying to defend a lead)

• Watson can certainly find space when given the chance

The contest remained willing across the ground as it appeared that the group looked to enjoy a strong hit out in the knowledge that "the dancing with your sister" period of match sim is coming to an end.

General observations:

• Chol had 5-6 clean shots at goal - his kicking boots weren't strong and probably went at 60% accuracy.  His marking presence is significant and it is obvious that the "seagulls" are waiting to pick up the chips that fall from the pack. As noted previously, his size & shape does give him a physical advantage over our key backs. Lewis and Chol didn't appear to get in each other's way

• How Jack Gunston & Luke Breust will work into the forward mix will be interesting

• Similarly, with C. MacDonald spending probably 90-95% of the session in the midfield/wing, it would appear that he may be moved up the ground.  To the eye, he looks to have a serious dash of pace

• The same applies to recruit Massimo D'Ambrosio as he spent the equivalent amount of time off half back with a brief spell on the wing

• There is a clear push to a "run & gun" approach off half back which may be part of respect as to what worked for eventual Premiers Collingwood last season

• Ward & Mackenzie appear to be the first options to replace Day as the inside mid, however Henry Hustwaite is not without claims either.  It will be a watch over the coming weeks. (The regular mids were pushed to the wing at times, but this may have been a matter of not having full interchange options)

• Seamus Mitchell is an interesting case watch as he still looks to be managed in part.  When he is in match sim, his run and carry is noticeable. (Note: Mitchell did go off late in match sim with the club now reporting broken jaw after a clash of bodies)

• Will McCabe, Ryan & Dear have all shown glimpses of their potential - a common area to work on is their execution and particularly an awareness of an opponent's capacity to intercept, which is very common when stepping up to AFL level

• The ‘tops’ starting back 6 today looks to be the first choice back half (with Serong probably the next option) as to the other lines within the team, the next couple of weeks will be telling

The hard work doesn’t stop as the Hawks prepare for a fully fledged intraclub match next week as the final tune up before the players can take their pre-season frustrations out against an actual opposition.

Keep checking back in for more track watching and other fantastic insights from the Hawks Insiders, your go-to for Hawthorn related media.

---

Follow Hawks Insiders on Twitter and Facebook.