Written by Rhys Knight
When four of the first five goals went the Giants way with an ease in which the defence was taken apart, Hawks fans were on the edge. However, for every challenge there on, the Hawks responded and then some to run out three goal victors in a brilliant tribute the one year anniversary of John Kennedy Sr’s passing. We didn’t think, we DID!
We at Talking Hawks are also introducing a star rating system, which is just a visual showing of our thoughts. This isn’t used to openly ‘bash’ any player for their performance but just to show a quick overview of our thoughts. One star is for being quiet and/or injured, two stars is being okay and playing the role, three stars is being good in the role, four stars is having an excellent performance and only one player gets five, the Talking Hawks best on ground!
After all of that, here is your player by player review.
Tom Mitchell
After a 34 and 36 disposal outing since the bye, the man Talking Hawks identified as the one to watch didn’t let us down, having 40 disposals, 402 metres gained (fifth on the day for the brown and gold), a team high eleven marks, eight score involvements and his spread from the contest was good as I’ve seen, including his Brownlow winning year.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
James Worpel
A dozen disposal, seven contested possession and five clearance first half saw the Worpedo back in business and after his week suspension, played one of his better games of the year. His day read thusly; 21 disposals (16 kicks), eleven contested touches, seven clearances, five inside 50’s, five score involvements and a beautiful running goal was unreal but seven clangers keeps him from the three star club.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ben McEvoy
The skipper had plenty of moments on Sunday and took most of them; ironically his goalkicking (in which he is ultra reliable at executing) let him down, with 1.2. However, eleven contested possessions, eight score involvements, eight marks (three contested) and a couple of clearances was awesome from the skipper.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sam Frost
Frosty dominated Jeremy Finlayson aerially – which first and foremost is his role – but did struggle to make an impact with the ball in hand. Went at just 41% efficiency but gets a huge clap on the back for his efforts. Finlayson kicked five on the Blues and kicked one against the flow on Frosty. That’s a win.
⭐️⭐️
Jaeger O’Meara
Played an underrated role we think here at Talking Hawks. His day of 23 touches (nine contested), eight score involvements, six marks, six clearances, four inside 50’s and a final quarter nail in the coffin goal off a Luke Breust masterclass clearance but his work on the defensive side of the stoppage was unbelievable and he went at 82% efficiency.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Will Day
Welcome to the big time Wilbur! A career best 29 disposals (10 contested), seven marks, seven score involvements, six inside 50’s, 82% efficiency and went on long runs up the outer wing, continuously burned opponents with his foot skills and used both feet effectively. The maturity on this young man is outstanding and with how he calmed down Jai Newcombe before his set shot, showed a leadership beyond his 20 years.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jack Scrimshaw
This young man is growing before our eyes with his overhead marking (took six marks on Sunday), pinpoint kicking (85% efficiency) and maturity. If you add in eleven contested possessions, nine intercepts, four score involvements, four one-percenters and four rebound 50’s, the Hawks have another star on their hands.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Blake Hardwick
Dimma had his quietest game of the year for certain but it shows the quality of the back half in that he can have a dozen touches, five score involvements, four marks and four rebounds at 91% and the Hawks still dominate in periods. When he got the ball he did good things, just didn’t get it a lot.
⭐️⭐️
Lachie Bramble
This young man has composure beyond his years and with his six inside 50 entries, found targets continuously. 72% efficiency from his eleven disposals and five score involvements were solid numbers but did float in and out of the contest.
⭐️⭐️
Daniel Howe
His form since the bye has been simply outstanding and how’s this for numbers? 31 disposals at 87% efficiency, nine marks, eight score involvements, three inside 50’s, a couple of rebounds, 422 metres gained, elite body work and was a career best day.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jonathan Ceglar
With an elite performance against the Swans followed up by a quieter game against the Bombers, the ‘tiebreaker’ was hoping to answer some questions and we did. ‘Ceggles’ and the skipper worked together well in tandem, with Ceglar having 29 hitouts and five clearances being the ruckman, while seven marks, six score involvements and 86% efficiency amongst his 15 disposals (ten contested). Incredible.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Chad Wingard
Was subbed out with a hamstring complaint which will be a watch but six score involvements, four tackles, three marks, including a ripper that resulted in his goal was a quiet performance for his 64 minute game time but he made his eight touches count.
⭐️
Tom Phillips
Flip is one of those players who when he’s got the ball, something will happen in a positive fashion but the issue is, he’s been struggling to get his hands on the ball. Take today; 83% efficiency, five contested possessions, four score involvements and four marks are all wonderful and his goal was a solid set shot from a great slips catch but only had a dozen disposals.
⭐️
Luke Breust
Had Nick Haynes, Sam Reid and Isaac Cumming as opponents throughout the day and didn’t break any shackles but wasn’t helped by poor delivery inside 50 to him, especially in the first half. Kicked a typical classy snap goal and set up Jaeger late in the game.
⭐️⭐️
Tim O’Brien
What. A. Mark.
Timmy took to the skies from a Chad Wingard ball inside 50 and posterised Punky when he hauled in one of the marks of the year! It was unbelievable and two goals from five grabs was a very good performance but his set shot goal-kicking did let him down, this could’ve been a four or five goal bag for TOB but he was very good.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Liam Shiels
Pup was quite damaging forward of centre with his 26 disposals and nine inside 50’s, taking on another role this year, with tagging and being a defending midfielder in his quiver also. He laid six tackles, took four marks, had four clearances, two rebounds and eight contested possessions but what stops him getting four stars were six clangers and four free kicks against. Was still good though.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kyle Hartigan
After serving his three week suspension, Hartigan came back and held Harry Himmelberg goalless amongst ten disposals and three marks, while Jeremy Finlayson kicked a goal from seven disposals. Those are huge ticks. He had a few key touches in the second half but around the ball, wasn’t a huge contributor but can’t knock how he destroyed Himmelberg in the air.
⭐️⭐️
Changkuoth Jiath
CJ had a mixed bag it seemed at times in which he dropped a couple of easy marks, seemingly held the ball for a second too long and second guessed himself flying into contests but when he was allowed (and allowed himself) to find space and move with the ball, he looked like the player fans know and love. Eight marks, five rebounds and four inside 50’s read a very nice day for CJ.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jacob Koschitzke
Was quiet and struggled against Phil Davis but did show his elite aerobic capacity but it was an ‘almost’ day. Had two really good opportunities to score but didn’t take those chances. He looks a full pre-season away from genuinely dominating on a week-to-week basis.
⭐️
Dylan Moore
Unlucky to miss out on the best on ground award but Moore’s breakout game in the last game of last season against Gold Coast – in which he got a Brownlow vote – wasn’t a fluke in the slightest, he’s been awesome in 2021. 4.1 from 20 disposals, nine score involvements, five inside 50’s, four tackles and 70% efficiency was simply amazing from arguably, the most consistent break out star of 2021.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Denver Grainger-Barras
The unsociable Hawk is back! Our man and our debutant has been quoted about being mentored by James Sicily and there was so much early Sis in his attitude, his want to have a biff and stand up for his teammates but also current Sis with his intercept marks and good ball use. A concussion concern ruled him out for the last quarter but every fan should be excited about DGB and wouldn’t be surprised to see him in a lower number in 2022.
⭐️
Jai Newcombe
From a dominant and pressure filled debut to a quieter second outing, Duke’s third was somewhere in-between. An amazing 51 metre set shot goal in the last quarter was one of the moments of the day, five marks and four tackles are more than solid numbers but five clangers amongst a dozen touches isn’t the most flattering number. Has a future in the Hawks side for sure.
⭐️⭐️
THE MEDICAL SUBSTITUTE
Shaun Burgoyne
Subbed in for Chad Wingard and proved that his old head on good shoulders has some tricks. Had nine disposals and every single one of them were effective, with five contested possessions and a clearance. Cannot believe we get to see his 400th next week and we cannot wait for it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Image: Getty Images
