It’s time for Hawthorn to get payback for their narrow defeat in round four aka Gather Round. This Saturday sees 13th-placed Hawthorn take on 12th-placed reigning Premiers, Collingwood, once more for season 2024.
This time it’s a prime-time game at the MCG, where Collingwood has lost their last two games. Hawthorn hopes to make it three losses in a row, which will help them edge closer to the top eight.
The last time they faced each other, Collingwood dominated much of the game, kicking the first four majors, and going into the final quarter with a 25-point lead. However, the Pies failed to kick another for the remainder of the game. The Hawks took advantage of this, kicking the final four of the match and getting within five points of defeating the Pies. Unfortunately, time ran out leaving the Hawks ruing what could have been their first win of the season.
Much has changed since then. Collingwood ventured up and down the ladder, came within a point of losing to the Kangaroos, and lost their last two matches to Essendon and Geelong in the past fortnight. Injuries have played a role in Collingwood’s slump, having lost forwards Brody Mihocek, ruck Mason Cox, midfielder Tom Mitchell, and defender Jeremy Howe in recent weeks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23buTY7OOBw&ab_channel=TalkingHawks
Hawthorn’s line-up looks quite different to what it did three months ago, with the inclusion of Calsher Dear and Nick Watson in the forward line and the return of Changouth Jiath replacing the likes of Max Ramsden, Sam Butler, and Seamus Mitchell from the round four line up. Also missing from round four was Will Day and Luke Breust, whose leadership has been important in Hawthorn’s resurgence.
Hawks fans will be watching swingmen Blake Hardwick closely, who kicked four against Collingwood last they met, and James Sicily, who kicked three goals last week against Fremantle after moving forward from the defensive 50. They’ll also be looking to see who gets the job on Collingwood wunderkind Nick Daicos, who amassed 32 disposals despite being tagged by Geelong’s Tom Atkins and Jack Bowes.
Talking Hawks MVP Votes for Round 4
The return of Jack Ginnivan is most welcome, whose work off half forward is most important for Hawthorn’s entries in the forward 50, as is the inclusion of Finn Maginness, who has been playing consistent footy in the VFL and is the likely candidate to assume the role of tagger on Daicos.
Both teams’ chances of making the finals hang on the result of what should be a blockbuster game this Saturday. Hawthorn is going into this match as punters’ favourites having won four of their last five games and a win here would see Hawthorn leapfrog Collingwood into tenth place. Round 19 – Hawthorn v Collingwood
MCG, Melbourne • Wurundjeri
Saturday 20 July 2024
4:35 PM (AEST)
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