After the disappointing result last Sunday, the young Hawks are taking the seven-day break to reset and recharge before what’s set to be a blockbuster game against Carlton.
Both teams’ finals hopes hinge on this match, which is shaping up to have an elimination final-like atmosphere.
It’s 8th vs 10th and, much like last week, four points separate the Hawks from their opponent. After starting the season strong, Carlton has lost their last four out of five games, including last week’s huge match against Collingwood, putting them in a precarious position.
Hawthorn’s loss to GWS last week has made their campaign more tricky, needing not only to win this week but the following two games, and by large margins, if they are to have any say about their finals chances.
On paper, Hawthorn and Carlton appear very closely matched, with no glaring outliers or advantages in any statistical metric for either side. This suggests spectators have a very close match on their cards here.
The midfield matchups should be fascinating. Lloyd Meek is expected to have an advantage over former Hawk, Mark Pittonet, who only collected 25 hit-outs on Saturday night against Collingwood, dominated by Magpie’s ruck, Darcy Cameron. Meek is currently averaging 36.8 hitouts (above average), with 10.8 to advantage, compared to Pittonet’s 25.7 (below average).
Blues Captain, Patrick Cripps, is in good form despite his team’s lack of recent success. He and Sam Walsh collected over 30 disposals last weekend. Fellow midfielder George Hewett, also collected over 30 disposals while also notching an impressive 12 clearances.
It will be interesting to see how Sam Mitchell adapts the game plan for Carlton. It’s likely Cripps or Walsh will get tagged at some point in the game and contingency plans in place if Will Day receives one like last week.
Key forwards Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow will require attention. Both are Coleman medal contenders (Curnow more so having only just lost the lead to GWS’s Jesse Hogan) and can be very damaging. However, as demonstrated by Collingwood last week, both forwards can be rendered goalless if enough pressure is applied.
Hawthorn has only played Carlton once per season for the last couple of years, including in a thrashing in round 16 last year (52 to 112) and a nail-biter the year before. The last time Hawthorn beat Carlton was back in round nine, 2020, at Optus Stadium.
There is one change going into this week, with Josh Ward being omitted from the squad for Cam McKenzie.
Carlton v Hawthorn
Round 22
Sunday 11 August 2024
1:10 PM (AEST)
MCG, Melbourne, Wurundjeri
