Preview Round 5, 2025: Port Adelaide v Hawthorn, 13 April 2025, 7.20pm @ Adelaide Oval

[ML4Hodgy]

I think we have been better for Gunston playing the deep forward decoy defensive role.

He’d play on Alir - but is Alir too mobile for him?

For me, I think it’s Worpel for Ward, and CMac for Breust, with Gunners moving to the Sub.

Gees I’d love to keep Ward in - but I just can’t. He’s a better player than Harry and Finn, but not in their positions.

 

[MuzzHawk]

Are we certain both Croc and Worps will be up in time for this game?


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[TylerDurden]

Are we certain both Croc and Worps will be up in time for this game?


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They're ready.

 

[Stratton_Gun]

Some interesting selection headaches coming up.

CMac for Breust if he's ready but if not Breust stays in.

Worpel comes straight back if he's fit as we need the grunt in the middle but not sure who he replaces. Frenchie can't get dropped after yesterday, Morrison also played well after a slow start to the year (and is a slightly different role).
Maginess adds something different too so unfortunately it may be Ward.

Ward hasn't done anything wrong but there may not be a spot for him in the best 22 .

Ins: Worpel, C Mac (if fit)
Out: Ward, Breust

Morrison to sub

 

[kenneje]

Staggering to think of the development in depth this team has had in two years - hell, even one.

You'd assume a best 23 in finals includes Worpel, Macdonald, Scrimshaw, Dear and Lewis.
Hard to leave Hustwaite out if he's pumping out 38 disposal games for the Stangers.

Feel for the match committee. NFI who drops out for this game.
Assume Breust for Worpel.
At the start of the year I'd have said Maginness for Macdonald, but that's rough - feel like his athleticism and power to stand up in the tackle brings something different to our forward line.

Does Croc get a week at Box Hill?

 

[TheFourPillars]

Worps and croc will come in. Some unlucky players to go out

 

[cryptor]

Hope we thrash them by 100+

 

[SSSSSS]

Would like to see Conor Rozee get smashed every time he gets near the ball.

Can't handle a tag.

 

[user33]

Bruest out of Cmac.

Think it will be either Ward or Gunston for Worpel, although neither obviously deserve to be dropped.

 

[Phil McCreviss]

Surprised at the calls to drop Ginni. Watch the game again. He was involved in a number of scoring chains. His role has definitely changed this season - more team oriented, less focus on hitting the scoreboard.
Also Newcombe played mid decoy against GWS creating space for our other mids. His positioning was completely different to previous weeks. Brilliant coaching from Mitch

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Croc in for Breust, that one is easy.
And harshly, Worpel in for Ward who is not doing anything wrong at the moment, but that’s just where we’re at - he’s bottom of the midfield pecking order.

Finn offers something unique and may need to go to Butters for periods.
And it’s not necessarily showing in his numbers but our best offensive patches in games are when Ginni gets involved in our chains. We need to persist for now.

It’ll be tougher when Scrimshaw needs to come back, because Gunston was his replacement but he needs to stay in.


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Zero chance Ward goes out for Worpel. Ward is playing the wing role superbly and is playing a good rotational role inside. It’s hard but it’ll be one of Morrison, Maginness, Breust or Ginnivan. The latter unlikely.

 

[tommyk72]

Frustrating that both Hawthorn and BH have a bye this week. Then they both pay on the Sunday the following week. Not helpful for boys who need continuity and the opportunity to knock on the door.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

He’d play on Alir - but is Alir too mobile for him?

For me, I think it’s Worpel for Ward, and CMac for Breust, with Gunners moving to the Sub.

Gees I’d love to keep Ward in - but I just can’t. He’s a better player than Harry and Finn, but not in their positions.

Ward and Morrison have played wing mainly this year. Ward is the second highest rated hawk so far in 2025 and top 40 ITL.

Form guide:
35th rated player (2nd HAWK)
Ward - 22.7 disposals @ 74% DE
13 kicks, 3.7 inside 50s, 2.7 rebound 50s, 7.3 contested, 6.3 ground ball gets
2.7 clearances
0.3 goals, 5 score inv
4 tackles
449 metres gained

307th rated player
Morrison - 14.3 disposals @ 82% DE
9.3 kicks, 1.3 inside 50s, 2.8 rebound 50s
3.8 contested, 2.8 ground ball gets
1 clearance
0.3 goals, 2.5 score inv
3.5 tackles
227 metres gained

Paints a very clear picture.

Ward is able to play the wing role better and is able to play midfield as a rotation and as a replacement (until he continues to build more time inside), Morrison has had a solid start but not comparable.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

IN:
J. Worpel
C.MacDonald

OUT:
H.Morrison (omit)
L. Breust (omit)

B: J. Battle, T. Barrass, J.Impey
HB: J. Sicily, J. Weddle, K.Amon
C: M. D’Ambrosio, W. Day, J. Ward
HF: D. Moore, M. Chol, C. MacDonald
F: N. Watson, B. Hardwick, J. Ginnivan
FOL: L. Meek, J. Newcombe, J. Worpel
INT: C. Mackenzie, C. Nash, F. Maginness, C. Jiath, J. Gunston

One of Maginness, Gunston, Ginnivan for sub.

 

[The Chad and I]

IN:
J. Worpel
C.MacDonald

OUT:
H.Morrison (omit)
L. Breust (omit)

B: J. Battle, T. Barrass, J.Impey
HB: J. Sicily, J. Weddle, K.Amon
C: M. D’Ambrosio, W. Day, J. Ward
HF: D. Moore, M. Chol, C. MacDonald
F: N. Watson, B. Hardwick, J. Ginnivan
FOL: L. Meek, J. Newcombe, J. Worpel
INT: C. Mackenzie, C. Nash, F. Maginness, C. Jiath, J. Gunston

One of Maginness, Gunston, Ginnivan for sub.

Straight forward ins/outs.

We owe them one.

 

[MazHawk]

What amazes me most about this thread is the number of people who think Ward should or will be dropped.
Just wondering how many of you watch the games. He's one of our highest rating players this year, destructive with the ball in hand, pinpoints passes and Sam has said he loves having him in the side.

And yet he should be dropped?
Some numpty even said he's our weakest midfield link. Just wow.

 

[HedgeFund]

Frustrating that both Hawthorn and BH have a bye this week. Then they both pay on the Sunday the following week. Not helpful for boys who need continuity and the opportunity to knock on the door.

It’s designed to make sure the entire list of players get dedicated time off as a group. So they can all have a break and come back refreshed.

It’s part of the CBA I believe.

 

[The Chad and I]

What amazes me most about this thread is the number of people who think Ward should or will be dropped.
Just wondering how many of you watch the games. He's one of our highest rating players this year, destructive with the ball in hand, pinpoints passes and Sam has said he loves having him in the side.

And yet he should be dropped?
Some numpty even said he's our weakest midfield link. Just wow.

They reason back from having chosen a favourite fringe player who can't be dropped in order to preserve their emotional stability. See Morrison, Maginness, Breust...

Of course Ward should not be dropped.
He's been great.

Being dropped is not always a punishment or verdict on form.
Sometimes there are better players, or alternatives who bring something different or higher value.

 

[chippie]

Straight forward ins/outs.

We owe them one.

I think you and Dewy are right Chad - no-one really deserves to be dropped but someone has to make way and it’s likely to be Breust and Harry. To a large degree we are now the hunted this year but this game will be different! I’m getting 2008 Paul Chapman ( sorry to bring it up ) “we never lose to these p#%*ks again!” vibes. Would love this in years to come to be known as the “Kenny Curse”

 

[bigmaxi]

IN:
J. Worpel
C.MacDonald

OUT:
H.Morrison (omit)
L. Breust (omit)

B: J. Battle, T. Barrass, J.Impey
HB: J. Sicily, J. Weddle, K.Amon
C: M. D’Ambrosio, W. Day, J. Ward
HF: D. Moore, M. Chol, C. MacDonald
F: N. Watson, B. Hardwick, J. Ginnivan
FOL: L. Meek, J. Newcombe, J. Worpel
INT: C. Mackenzie, C. Nash, F. Maginness, C. Jiath, J. Gunston

One of Maginness, Gunston, Ginnivan for sub.

Maybe Ginnivan sub, Maginnes sheer running grunt and pressure in the forward line, plus as we saw on Saturday against GWS the tagger option, means he stays. While Gunston is important for the goals and taking a key defender, Chol will bounce back from a bad day at the office and we need both. Ginnivan has a high footy IQ and can plug numerous holes.

 

[MazHawk]

Being dropped is not always a punishment or verdict on form.
Sometimes there are better players, or alternatives who bring something different or higher value.

Fair statement as applying to those who are doing well in their positions - they could be replaced, but Ward is excelling in his position. There's no denying that.

 

[Siri]

No use hypothesising. Aside from key forward stocks, the selection committee are in the enviable position of selecting the team based on how we best match up against Port. They wouldn't know how this yet looks, but have the luxury of watching the Saints have a crack at the flat track bullies at the same venue we'll be at. Perfect preparation really.

 

[KermitJagger]

Surprised at the calls to drop Ginni. Watch the game again. He was involved in a number of scoring chains. His role has definitely changed this season - more team oriented, less focus on hitting the scoreboard.
Also Newcombe played mid decoy against GWS creating space for our other mids. His positioning was completely different to previous weeks. Brilliant coaching from Mitch

I don't know why you're surprised, we haven't really had any badly performing players but Ginnivan has had the most disappointing start. It's a pretty simple equation, we have players to come back in, and if those players are definitely best 22 then others need to come out.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Surprised at the calls to drop Ginni. Watch the game again. He was involved in a number of scoring chains. His role has definitely changed this season - more team oriented, less focus on hitting the scoreboard.
Also Newcombe played mid decoy against GWS creating space for our other mids. His positioning was completely different to previous weeks. Brilliant coaching from Mitch

Ginnivan is a smart footballer, but he is slow (not sure if it's related to his preseason injury).

Given our gameplan heavily revolves around fast movement (both disposal and without the ball), it makes ginnivans spot most susceptible. His current pace issues also limits where he can play on the field

 

[Hawkers Hero]

Ginni is not being dropped against Port