Preview Round 3, 2025: Hawthorn v GWS Giants, 29 March 2025, 7.35pm @ UTAS Stadium

[ReturningHawk]

Sorry what I meant to say is picking him up in the draft. If he's not quick in terms of pace why take the risk?? Pace in the midfield must be non negotiable when picking up a midfielder in the draft.

I was going to upload a photo of our coach, but instead I'll go another example and just show a selection of some of the best midfielders in the competition, as ranked by AFL rating points. Pace is really not a defining characteristic here, and neither is elite kicking. All of them do have elite hands, elite ball-winning ability, spatial awareness and an ability to break or evade tackles. I'm not saying Henry Hustwaite is likely to join this list anytime soon, but there is nothing in his profile that says he can't.

 

[ReturningHawk]

I think we have to play Gunston to help make Taylor, Himmelberg and Buckley a bit more accountable.

Hardwick to the backline - GWS have Greene and Stringer, who are likely to light us up if they get favourable matchups.

I'd consider bringing in Frost, to take on Stringer or Greene - OR - Mitchell, to take on Greene or Daniels. With Morrison dropping to sub.

Hardwick - Barrass - Impey
Battle - Sicily - Weddle

Meek - Day - Newcombe
CJ - Nash - D'Ambrosio

Moore - Gunston - Mackenzie
Watson - Chol - Ginnivan

Bench: Amon, Ward, Maginess, Frost / Mitchell
Sub: Morrison

It's really interesting balance. I'd love to see Frosty back there as well, he's a good matchup for Stringer/Greene. I'm also with you on the Gunston match up. I just don't think I'd be willing to drop Morrison though. We've likely lost one of our best runners in Croc, and GWS are one of the hardest running teams in the competition. Morrison, Moore, CJ, Ward and Amon are the players we'll be leaning on to go with the likes of Whitfield, Kelly, Daniels, Jones, Callaghan on the outside.

I believe that like the past two games against the Giants it will come down to momentum swings and whether either side is able to exploit tiny advantages. Their smalls up forward were more efficient than ours last time, and Hogan got off the chain. It's interesting to look at the scoring differential (last 10 games) as to how the two teams play. Both teams good at scoring from turnover, Hawks much better at defending scores from turnover (we have the best differential in the comp, GWS 14th). Both teams excellent as defending transition, so I don't expect to see another Harlem globe-trotters highlight-reel where we take it end to end.

We just need to be efficient when we have opportunity to go inside 50, which we have been so far this year. Obviously we don't want to go long to Chol and Gunston vs Buckley and Taylor, but we've just had a dress rehearsal with Weitering and we handled that really well. A slight surprise to me was that we have a the best intercept mark differential over the last 10 games, while GWS are 2nd last. Even since Taylor has been back they are still deep in the negative, and suggests that it's the Giants who should be wary of kicking long bombs to Sic+B1+B2.

After going a bit more into it statistically, I just can't wait for the game.

 

[Rowie6]

Can't really afford to with Scrimshaw out though. Assuming Brown is omitted:

Barrass --> Hogan
Battle --> Riccardi
Weddle --> Cadman
Sicily --> Stringer
Impey / Hardwick --> Greene
CJ / Amon --> Jones

Scrimshaw gives us a lot of flexibility with matchups which we lose when he's unavailable. It's why I think Frost will be sub, because it enables moves like Battle to Greene or Sicily forward.

Shammy might be a good match up for Jones if he gets promoted?


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[TheFourPillars]

It's going to rain

 

[KermitJagger]

I was going to upload a photo of our coach, but instead I'll go another example and just show a selection of some of the best midfielders in the competition, as ranked by AFL rating points. Pace is really not a defining characteristic here, and neither is elite kicking. All of them do have elite hands, elite ball-winning ability, spatial awareness and an ability to break or evade tackles. I'm not saying Henry Hustwaite is likely to join this list anytime soon, but there is nothing in his profile that says he can't.

View attachment 2260248

A significant number of the players in this list have really good burst speed and would be great kicks anywhere other than the midfield.

The only one of this lot I'd actually call slow is Cripps.

 

[ReturningHawk]

A significant number of the players in this list have really good burst speed and would be great kicks anywhere other than the midfield.

The only one of this lot I'd actually call slow is Cripps.

In a sprint against Cripps and Libba, I'll back Hustwaite.

 

[hr_23]

Just looking through training pics the club posted on Insta, looked like Weddle was training with the mids at defensive stoppage work, can any track watchers confirm? my personal opinion id love to see Weds in the guts another meter gained player out of the square is what we need with Daysy being sat on also i dont think he is required in defence anymore he has also been quiet so far when defending & his skills can be better utilised up the ground

 

[ahhhhhh]

Just looking through training pics the club posted on Insta, looked like Weddle was training with the mids at defensive stoppage work, can any track watchers confirm? my personal opinion id love to see Weds in the guts another meter gained player out of the square is what we need with Daysy being sat on also i dont think he is required in defence anymore he has also been quiet so far when defending & his skills can be better utilised up the ground

I mentioned it earlier in this thread, I hope we are looking at it.

 

[TheFourPillars]

Just looking through training pics the club posted on Insta, looked like Weddle was training with the mids at defensive stoppage work, can any track watchers confirm? my personal opinion id love to see Weds in the guts another meter gained player out of the square is what we need with Daysy being sat on also i dont think he is required in defence anymore he has also been quiet so far when defending & his skills can be better utilised up the ground

I mentioned it earlier in this thread, I hope we are looking at it.

Sam has ruled this out multiple times. He is not a mid. A ruck, a defender and a forward

 

[BIGHAWK23]

Sam has ruled this out multiple times. He is not a mid. A ruck, a defender and a forward

Sam hasn't ruled this out

His example of comparison for Weddle was Blicavs

He spoke about nailing one position before moving

 

[ahhhhhh]

Sam has ruled this out multiple times. He is not a mid. A ruck, a defender and a forward

I did say as a back-up ruck, and I don't think Sam has ruled it out either.

 

[TheFourPillars]

Sam hasn't ruled this out

His example of comparison for Weddle was Blicavs

He spoke about nailing one position before moving

Trust me Sam has ruled out Weddle playing in the middle except maybe stints in the ruck

 

[BIGHAWK23]

Trust me Sam has ruled out Weddle playing in the middle except maybe stints in the ruck

Josh hasn't

 

[hr_23]

Trust me Sam has ruled out Weddle playing in the middle except maybe stints in the ruck

Get the man some grippo lol

 

[PenAndPaper]

Sam has ruled this out multiple times. He is not a mid. A ruck, a defender and a forward

Yeah, Weddle is nowhere near clean enough as a one touch player to play midfield.

 

[bigmaxi]

Trust me Sam has ruled out Weddle playing in the middle except maybe stints in the ruck

Yep, Sam mentioned Josh was a bit too flat footed for the midfield. BUT, i think as a mobile back up ruck man around the ground it works, as he can launch himself into a contest. Chol attends centre bounces and Josh does the rest, while Meeks gets a breather. Nash steps in when needed. It needs some work/practice but the idea is solid.

 

[TazHawk15]

It's going to rain

Very much doubt it.

At this stage the forecast is for a mostly cloudy day and a top of 28 degrees.

 

[hr_23]

Fox Sports Power Rankings:
1. HAWTHORN (3-0, 129.9%)
Last week: Ranked 2nd, def Carlton by 20 pts

The combination of Brisbane wobbling and Hawthorn winning again has to make them flag favourites at this point, which marks a remarkable 12-month turnaround. But you can make the case the Hawks have been the best team in the AFL ever since that 0-5 start to the 2024 season - probably still below the Lions, but they’ve made a stronger start to the 2025 campaign, and it’s pretty clear at this point they are backing up the pre-season hype. They’ve won 17 of their past 21 matches, the big-name recruits are already living up to the billing, and they’re banking wins to put themselves in a strong position. This Saturday night is fascinating because we’re pretty confident the Hawks are better than the Giants - all of the footy statisticians who run advanced models to rank teams and tip games agree with us - but the common wisdom in the footy world has been that the Giants are definitely a flag contender too. The numbers disagree right now, and we’re keen to see whether the Hawks can prove the nerds right.

This week: GWS Giants at UTAS Stadium, Saturday 7:35pm

 

[peetoo]

I wish I shared that we are clearly better than the giants. It’s been very close wins recently.

 

[H00t]

In a sprint against Cripps and Libba, I'll back Hustwaite.

Would be close to a nil all draw. These guys are two of the hardest players at the contest we’ve ever seen.

Mitchell for all his skill was as well. If you aren’t quick you better be so hard at it the opposition can’t easily get the ball on the outside to expose you.

I’m personally not quite sure he’s at that level yet to make up for it. Especially when he could only run out 3 quarters at VFL. AFL is a lot faster.

 

[SSSSSS]

I was going to upload a photo of our coach, but instead I'll go another example and just show a selection of some of the best midfielders in the competition, as ranked by AFL rating points. Pace is really not a defining characteristic here, and neither is elite kicking. All of them do have elite hands, elite ball-winning ability, spatial awareness and an ability to break or evade tackles. I'm not saying Henry Hustwaite is likely to join this list anytime soon, but there is nothing in his profile that says he can't.

View attachment 2260248

I like Huss but he would be the slowest of that bunch by a country mile.

 

[unitedhawk2]

Trust me Sam has ruled out Weddle playing in the middle except maybe stints in the ruck

When you say middle, are you referring just to the guts (other than ruck) or wing as well?

I hope it's not the latter because, with his combination of dash and endurance, he can be a real weapon, especially on the wide expanses of the G.

 

[kazzooka]

I suspect the words 'grand final preview' will be bandied about in the aftermath of this game. Will be close.

If its not close media will declare season over for whoever loses like they did to Collingwood in Rd 0.

 

[TheFourPillars]

When you say middle, are you referring just to the guts (other than ruck) or wing as well?

I hope it's not the latter because, with his combination of dash and endurance, he can be a real weapon, especially on the wide expanses of the G.

Wing is a specialised position players can get lost out there. Josh is not scheduled to play their any time soon. He hasn't trained there or played there yet

 

[TylerDurden]

7 inclusions. Wow.