 Hawthorn have a ‘home’ game against the Pies at Telstra Dome for the second round of the home and away season. Not the favourite hunting ground for the hawks in the past, struggling against many sides, including a woeful Carlton last year.
However the hawks managed to get a good win at the ground during the NAB cup series against the Tigers and can take confidence out of that performance, and must learn to win at all grounds especially with the high number of games played at the TD this season.
Hawthorn are coming off a good win against the Dockers were they were good defensively, and had a great third quarter kicking 9 goals, showing some midfield brilliance and an improving forward structure.
Hawthorn have traditionally matched up pretty well against Collingwood, but Collingwood has had the ‘wood’ over the Hawks of late. Their last encounter saw a pretty close contest, which the hawks probably could have taken control of, but through inexperience and skill errors let the pies run away with the game.
The Pies are a different team to last year, with Tarrant, Rocca, and Fraser making a formidable forward set-up against a modest, hard-working defence. The space won’t be there at Telstra Dome, and the Pies will bomb long to their forward line on most occasions. At least they should do this, but Tarrant seems to consistently lead to the flanks when the corridor seems a much better option.
One criticism of the Magpie forward line is that it always looks good on paper, but the results don’t always reflect what happens on paper. Tarrant needs to take more contested marks to deserve the reputation that he has developed.
However, when you look at it, the Pies will stretch the Hawks’ defence.
Buckley will spend time on the flanks, and link up to drive the ball long into attack. Whoever mans him will have a huge role, and hawks have a few decent taggers who will be putting their hands up to play a big role on Saturday. Sewell has done the job on Ricciuto from Adelaide so he could be a dark horse. Vandenburg may put his hand up to play contested footy on Buckley. Clarke will probably be chosen to watch Holland, who plays on the attacking side and tries to run forward of the ball on most occasions, Clarke may be used to keep him honest.
How could Hawthorn realistically cause major headaches to the Pies?
The Midfield.
The Pies are one-paced and quite modest through the middle of the ground, with decent forwards, and decent backs, but despite Buckley, Hawthorn can cause some serious damage at the centre clearances. Even though an advantage on paper doesn’t always turn out that way on the day, Everitt, Crawford, Hodge, Mitchell and Bateman are the real key for the hawks, and if all have big games, can reduce the amount of times the Pies can get it into the forward line.
Mitchell has had good games against the Pies in the past, and should be able to dominate the clearances in this match. Brodie Holland has improved but is not in the same class as Crawford or Hodge. Everitt needs to lift his game as he could orchestrate the clearances, and get on a roll, but is probably a week away from taking over the ruck duties, if at all. Robbie Cambell deserves praise for his hard-working efforts against the human lamp post in Sandilands last week, and probably won that battle. He could be the backup ruckman Hawthorn have been searching for?
Hawthorn play with confidence, and once the midfield gets on top and realises they can actually play, they are relentless. However, last season they struggled when teams get a run on, and must realise when to attack, and when to shut teams down.
Occasionally Hawthorn have dominated the midfield and haven’t made the most of their advantage, and have been too defensive. Then on other occasions there is a point where they should drop numbers back and the opposition has kicked several goals before they have managed to adjust. So despite the fact Hawthorn have a definite advantage in terms of talent in the midfield, the team must realise when to take the game by the scruff on the neck, and when to slow things down. This will come with experience, and last week showed they have come a long way from last year. They kept Freo’s attacking players quiet, then in third quarter moved Hodge into the centre and the game opened up and Hawthorn hit the attack button. Against the Pies they can probably afford to attack from the start.
To Hawthorn’s half of the ground. Clement and Wakelin read the play well and intercepted many attacking thrusts against the hawks last time we played to pies. However our forward structure was very predictable last year, and Willo was the only option.
Hopefully they will believe we are structuring our side the same way, so Everitt can pop up and cause some headaces in the square. Croad will be used at CHF, make no mistake about that. Ben Dixon’s role should not be under-estimated in the forward half, even though his stats aren’t anything to write home about, he often contributes and keeps the scoreboard ticking over with 2 or 3 goals, and sets up a goal every match. If Willo struggles Dicko will need to add something, and he will be looking to make sure this isn’t his last year on the list.
Clement is under an injury cloud and will be a huge out if he can’t play, as he is a perfect solution to Mark Williams who has been unstoppable of late. If he is out, Hawthorn will stack their forward line and try to take advantage of their midfield advantage.
Possible strategies during the game will see Hawthorn try to force as many stoppages as possible in order to capitalize on their strengths in the midfield clearances, while the Pies will be keen to keep the ball moving quickly into their forward line before Hawthorn can get numbers back, which they have done well of late.
Match-ups for Pies forwards:
Roughead to take Rocca to allow Croad to play forward
Smith to take Tarrant; another big ask for Smith but he is ready for it.
Dawson to take Fraser; a risk but Fraser isn’t exactly a world beater up forward, Cambell may be thrown back if there is a disaster down back.
Jacobs will play loose and do what he does best.
Osborne to take Didak, Sewell to take Davis.
Still hard to gauge where each team is at, but Collingwood probably deservingly start favourites with their forward line, but Hawthorn are not to under-estimated this season. Very hard match to tip, and should be one of the matches of the round.
Good luck Hawks.
|