Written by Rhys Knight
Did that really just happen? The Hawks have got seven and a half wins and all against good teams (Adelaide were 3-2 when we won in Round 6) and now three in a row. Not just three average wins either, but two sides fighting for a top four spot, and a Collingwood side who were up and about. It’s been simply outstanding to watch, so here is your player review for the 27 point win over the Western Bulldogs.
Harry Morrison
Wasn’t Harry’s best game disposal wise with only a dozen touches, but five tackles including four of them inside 50, he gets a tick, a massive tick. 24 pressure acts is another massive effort for Harry who isn’t known for his pressure but brought it in spades against the doggies.
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Mitch Lewis
Lewy couldn’t stop clunking them which was really pleasing to see. Ten marks from 14 disposals was huge, kicked a goal and also laid five tackles! Five tackles is the most pleasing stat of all and still managed over 200 metres gained. Is finishing the year extremely well.
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Tom Mitchell
Started the game with two disposals in the first quarter and finished with 27, as is such the ball winning ability of this man. Five tackles and five score involvements showed his ever-improved two-way ability, 28 pressure acts is nuts and his 462 metres gained and six clearances were terrific; a really solid effort considering his start to the game.
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Ben McEvoy
The skipper continued his role as a defensive second ruck as epitomized by 15 hit-outs and 70% of his disposals coming in the back half. The captain also had eight score involvements and four intercepts as well as hitting the scoreboard with a goal. Plays his role every week.
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Sam Frost
From the spare man to playing on Aaron Naughton, to lining up on Cody Weightman, Frosty did it all. Gave away a silly free kick to give the Dogs the first but 17 disposals, ten intercepts, eight marks and eight contested possessions was very solid, unfortunately his ball use was iffy at times.
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Shaun Burgoyne
No player in the history of the game has made more quality decisions in their career than Silk and he continued that with his 15 touches. Whether it was a knock here or a fingertip spoil there, he went at 100% efficiency with three tackles and three rebounds. Long live Silk!
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Conor Nash
Bashed Marcus Bontempelli a couple of times around the contest but was found out against a top three midfield. Ended the game a touch sore but had 22 pressure acts, three tackles and three clearances which is enough to give him the tick.
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Ollie Hanrahan
Showed a lot more of the polish and class that those who keenly observe Box Hill are already familiar with. With no Worpedo or Jaeger it gave him freedom to roam the ground and 17 disposals, three tackles, three inside 50’s and a dozen pressure acts backed up that claim. However, he would’ve loved to use the ball better, going at just 59% efficiency.
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Jack Scrimshaw
One of seven Hawks with 350+ metres gained, Scrim showed the composure and the overhead marking that’s made every single Hawk fan (and finally, some media) love him. Eight marks and five intercepts were elite enough, but 95% disposal efficiency is exceptional. This young man is outstanding!
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Blake Hardwick
Dimma was simply brilliant on Saturday. Led the Hawks for marks with eleven, was top three for metres gained with 471, had 20 kicks for his 24 disposals, five one-percenters and four intercept possessions. Didn’t let anything get past him and helped set up a lot of our attacking plays.
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Lachie Bramble
Younger teammates have been managed in the second half of the year, but this young man is building a really consistent run of form in the back end of the year. He continued his run with 19 touches, 90% efficiency, five inside 50’s, four tackles, three rebounds, 16 pressure acts and three score involvements. Sammie’s found another one.
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Daniel Howe
Spoiler alert; he’s the best on ground and it’s not even close. Just the resume first of all; 34 disposals, 26 kicks, nine marks, eight score involvements, four intercepts, three clearances, three tackles, three inside 50’s, three rebounds, led the ground with 769 metres gained (108 more than anyone else) and 18 pressure acts. What isn’t on the resume was his ability to be a perfect wingman, he got his touches everywhere and impacted contests both in defence and attack, as well as hitting the scoreboard himself. A worthy best on ground is Howie.
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Jonathan Ceglar
After a 20 disposal performance last week, Cegs followed it up with 17 this week and didn’t let Tim English have a great impact on the contest. He got himself 34 hit-outs, six of them to advantage, six clearances, four score involvements and over 200 metres gained, which is fantastic for a ruckman.
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Chad Wingard
We aren’t sure if the media just hate Chadwick, or don’t want to talk about the individual Hawthorn players for fear they won’t get their clicks if it doesn’t contain Clarko. It’s no coincidence Hawthorn get better when Chad dominates around the contest. He was Howie’s biggest competitor for best on ground with his 26 disposals (13 contested), 20 pressure acts, nine score involvements, eight inside 50’s and four clearances. The man is still a superstar.
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Tom Phillips
Howie was the dominant wingman on the ground, but Flip played a much more inside game. He looked to go straight to the contest and his eleven handballs amongst 16 disposals was proof of that. Not his usual output but 81% efficiency means he didn’t waste it.
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Tim O’Brien
The big fear for the Hawks next year is now to decide where all these defenders go, a great problem to have. TOB played one of his best ever games for the Hawks with 24 disposals (six more than his previous best), ten marks (equal career best), six intercept marks, 14 intercept possessions, four rebounds and 352 metres gained. This was a really pleasing performance to watch.
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Liam Shiels
Pup’s overhead marking was on show a couple of times, but he was a pressure animal on Saturday. Seven tackles and 27 pressure acts were the story of his day and he helped malign the Dogs’ elite midfield group. Didn’t waste the footy at 76% efficiency but it was that frenetic panic he invoked in the Dogs that was key.
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Kyle Hartigan
Aaron Naughton and Tim English kicked 1.2 for the day so he gets a big tick there, it reads even better that the dogs kicked only 5 goals for the day.Took five marks and had five intercept possessions, amongst 75% efficiency. Big tick for the big defender.
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Jacob Koschitzke
For the first time in memory, a Hawks team post 2018 had two key forwards that fired on all cylinders. Kosi kicked 2.1 from six marks and ten disposals and competed really hard in every contest. Had five score involvements and four one-percenters, he did a bit of everything and it was really enjoyable to watch.
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Connor Downie
Has a 100%-win record and got on the park for his first real game and adapted really well. He had a dozen disposals, used it well and didn’t look out of place. Faded out of the game later in the contest but that’s to be expected, it was good to see the young man out there.
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Tyler Brockman
Was an almost sort of day for Brocky who did everything he could to make things happen, but they didn’t quite come off for him. Only had 20 metres gained in his 10 disposals but had four tackles and thirteen pressure acts.
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Jai Newcombe
With Jaeger and the Worpedo out, the Nuke stepped up and decimated the Dogs with his pressure and ball use. He had 18 disposals and eleven tackles (another double-digit tackling game from the king) at 89% efficiency and eight marks. He also picked up four inside 50’s, four score involvements and three clearances in a display that makes it hard to ignore him next year. This Hawks team is stacked.
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