Preview Round 2, 2025: Carlton v Hawthorn, Thursday 20th March, 7:30pm @MCG

[peetoo]

Voss will bring that early 2000 lions aggression. Question is if he has the cattle

What position is voss playing?

 

[VandoHawk]

Although I think we're a much more disciplined team than Port Adelaide, their thrashing at the hands of Collingwood is a reminder that one result does not define a team.

Carlton will come out hard. We have to ensure we're able to match that physicality and not just rock up expecting to win because they lost to Richmond.

 

[hawkheart]

There are a few alarm bells for our midfield after the Essendon game. Dons played an extra man at the stoppage in the first half which let us play a spare back and inflated their stats. But the second half they beat us man on man too. Bryan/Draper worked over Meek and TDK is a very good player. Very real chance their midfield gets on top with the extra days rest and a week of introspection. They’re still a reasonable side with a strong top end.

But…Carlton is much, much slower than Essendon. Crippa, Hewett, Cerra, Walsh all one-paced. After their mids win stoppage, there is very little defensive spread and intent to stop transition. And we obliterated Essendon through quick rebound. They also lack a lot of pressure up forward to put our skills under pressure. Motlop, Williams, Fogarty, Cottrell etc. don’t do it consistently.

Their defence is too tall. Weitering is a gun, and we will need to avoid him. Then they run McGovern/Silvagni/Haynes. Get Watson or CMac isolated on Haynes and they’re kicking 3 mininum. Their running defenders look great offensively but easily turn it over when the heat is on. They will struggle to stop our smalls from being transition options.

They’re going to be crying out for an underdone Charlie to be their saviour, who Weddle or Battle will run off at every chance. They also tend to bomb it long – a style which allowed us to take 25 intercepts against Sydney. Essendon avoided this at all costs, so do the Blues midfield have the skills to pull it off consistently?

I just don’t believe they have the tools to stop us due to their chosen style of play. However, we really cannot afford to have as poor a midfield performance as we did against Essendon. A fired-up Carlton can exploit it and it’s their best avenue to victory.

Very nice work Vando. Do the Blues have a worthy stopper for Daysy or does he have the potential to run amok?

 

[VandoHawk]

Very nice work Vando. Do the Blues have a worthy stopper for Daysy or does he have the potential to run amok?

They used Cincotta as a dedicated tagger last year but he isn’t available.

I suspect they will run someone like Hewett with Day just to keep him accountable. Or pull an Essendon and sacrifice someone random like Docherty. With the tagging role becoming more commonplace, teams will look to shut him down consistently.

Wouldn't be surprised if they also use Kemp or Silvagni on Sicily and tell them to just keep him accountable.

 

[hawkheart]

Boys are a proud bunch. Just as the half forwards responded last night after a quiet game against Sydney, I reckon the mids will bounce back this week.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Frost to start to replace Scrim, Morrison to sub. MacCabe to debut to help Chol

Don't mind this.

Morrison is a very good choice as sub and Frost plays better when he can ease himself into the game as a starter.

Also keen to get a look at MaCabe, he looks a likely type.

 

[Paul Kersey]

Every game in the AFL is a danger game imo - off by a small percentage against a bottom team and can be rolled. Carlton aren't a bottom team and will turn up. That said even at their best can't see how they beat Hawthorn unless Hawthorn is off - Carlton has a one man backline, a forward line with limited avenues to goal (and no decent smalls to keep it locked in etc), a decent albeit one pace midfield and a bog standard gameplan. Should be beating them by circa 5 - 6 goals imo.

 

[DogDaySonny]

Jai Serong to come in for Scrims? A same role replacement. Frosty remains as sub?

No other changes despite the forward line looking tired. They get rotational relief from the swingers, but otherwise I think they have to gut it out until Dear returns.

 

[Walshawk]

Frost is a terrible sub. Fluffed his first kick each match so far. He either starts or plays VFL.

 

[tommyk72]

Will be a tough game. Backing up on a short week against an opposition on tilt. Big job for the coaches to get the boots prepared physically and mentally.

Hawks by 48.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Does anyone else feel like the impact of the head coach is becoming more and more important?

These days the difference in the quality of teams lists is pretty small (with all the equalisation policies) so that extra 10% you need to win comes from your man management, game plan and match day coaching.

 

[bigmaxi]

Does anyone else feel like the impact of the head coach is becoming more and more important?

These days the difference in the quality of teams lists is pretty small (with all the equalisation policies) so that extra 10% you need to win comes from your man management, game plan and match day coaching.

With you on this one, the coaches role has expanded and is now a lot more inclusive. Not being woke here,Sam has the respect of the players and they genuinely like him, he often credits his line coaches, the whole of Hawthorn from social media to list management to the players being a happy team. A coach is now more aligned with being a CEO, and Sam is nailing it. Wherever he takes us in the next 10-15 years will be an amazing ride, never felt so confident and keen on our future.

 

[Sturty]

CJ in for Scrimma

 

[Blackhawk42]

Maybe unpopular (maybe not), but I'd consider Serong AND Jiath for Scrim and Frost.

CJ replaces Scrim and Serong replaces Frost as the sub.

Unless Curnow is ready to return???

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Maybe unpopular (maybe not), but I'd consider Serong AND Jiath for Scrim and Frost.

CJ replaces Scrim and Serong replaces Frost as the sub.

Unless Curnow is ready to return???

Why would you put Serong in ahead of Frost?

 

[TazHawk15]

We need to torch them again with speedy ball movement.

 

[Newmo89]

For what it is worth, Box Hill played on Friday evening at the same time as the Senior team. Box Hill won by around 7 goals. Best players on the night were Gunston, Ramsden and Hustwaite.

Gunston comes in this week for sure - Friday night was a tune up for him.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Why would you put Serong in ahead of Frost?

Frost hasn't adapted to the pace of the game while coming on as the sub. We're now going to be missing Scrimshaw's precision kicking out of D50.

I'd prefer Serong using the footy coming out of our defensive end than Frosty.

Doesn't need to be a permanent change, but I'd like to see it for a bit while Scrimshaw is out.

 

[Hawked Wings]

Cj for Scrim, Frost starting 22 with maybe Morrison to sub. They’ll want to play Gunston but not sure who he comes in for?? Possibly Frost?

 

[SammyC]

I think frost starting for scrim is a lock, gunston sub.

 

[CD Xbow]

Cj for Scrim, Frost starting 22 with maybe Morrison to sub. They’ll want to play Gunston but not sure who he comes in for?? Possibly Frost?

Yes.

 

[Nugett]

I reckon we will beat them by 10 goals, if we are switched on

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Too early in the season to predict form lines (just look at Collingwood who looked bottom 4 last week and top4 yesterday).

 

[Simon Crawshay]

With you on this one, the coaches role has expanded and is now a lot more inclusive. Not being woke here,Sam has the respect of the players and they genuinely like him, he often credits his line coaches, the whole of Hawthorn from social media to list management to the players being a happy team. A coach is now more aligned with being a CEO, and Sam is nailing it. Wherever he takes us in the next 10-15 years will be an amazing ride, never felt so confident and keen on our future.

Yeh I think the days of getting a "super list" like our 3 peat years are gone. Very difficult to get that much talent on a list with the amount of player movement and draft concessions.

It's going to be the team that has the coach who can come up with the right game plan to maximise the talent of the players on the list (like Hardwick did with the Tiges as an example).

That to me is the big difference between the good teams and the bad teams at the moment. Not so much the quality of their lists (although obviously that's still important) bit the quality of their coaching / player development / game style.

It's why Geelong are constantly there or there abouts. They get those things right more often than not (and the odd whisky land deal as well or course )

 

[unitedhawk2]

With you on this one, the coaches role has expanded and is now a lot more inclusive. Not being woke here,Sam has the respect of the players and they genuinely like him, he often credits his line coaches, the whole of Hawthorn from social media to list management to the players being a happy team. A coach is now more aligned with being a CEO, and Sam is nailing it. Wherever he takes us in the next 10-15 years will be an amazing ride, never felt so confident and keen on our future.

Agree with everything you've said but he also has a hard edge and demands high standards. The bottom line is that players absolutely love playing for him. Even West Coast players past and present continue to sing his praises for what he did as an assistant during their flag run.

Sam's ability was recognised early by those in the know. Parkin said he was already amongst the Top 3 coaches in the game - and he suggested that before Sam had coached an AFL game as senior coach. Clarko's final few years weren't great on the field but he isn't paid enough credit for what he did when he heard that Collingwood were chasing Sam (before they appointed Fly). Clarko went to Jeff and said we had to ensure we kept hold of Sam. They agreed on an admittedly botched succession plan but the most important part of it was that Sam remained with us. Clarko should be applauded far more than he is for his role in ensuring we have Sam.

Sam is going to be a generational coach and the media, behind the curve as usual, is finally beginning to recognise his ability.