HAWTHORN development coach Chris Newman reviews every Hawthorn-listed player's performance for at VFL level for Box Hill Hawks on the weekend.
BRENDAN WHITECROSS – 33 disposals, 11 marks
“Whitey had another really good game. It was a season-high disposal game for him with 33 - he worked really hard up and down the ground and provided a bigger body around the contest. He ended up with three tackles and about 15 pressure acts, so it was a pretty complete sort of game.”
ANGUS LITHERLAND – 25 disposals, eight rebound 50s
“Gus was another one who had another great game. He had 25 disposals off the half back line, providing some real run and carry for us. He ended up with 19 pressure acts too, so it probably exceeds our expectation really. He had eight rebounds for us, he competed really hard and set us up going inside 50 as well.”
KIERAN LOVELL – 23 disposals, eight clearances
“Lovey had another really good game on ball. He had eight clearances, so he was really important in giving us first use and winning it out of the middle. He tried hard for us all day, had five inside 50s, four tackles and can really break a line. We’re looking for him to play on instinct as much as possible and hunt the footy.”
JONATHAN O’ROURKE – 23 disposals, four inside 50s
“Jono played two-and-a-half quarters and had 23 disposals, so he was quite dominant on the day. He looked really dynamic with his movements after missing a couple of weeks with a hand injury. We probably missed him in the last quarter and a half because he was providing some real grunt at the coalface and getting the ball inside 50 for us.”
TEIA MILES – 22 disposals, six tackles, two goals
“Milesy played another good game, off half back and forward in the last quarter and a bit. He had three shots on goal and kicked two goals, but the best things about Milesy’s game was he had six tackles and his defensive side is improving week-by-week. He got involved in the air a few times with a few spoils, so he’s still improving, and his gut-running offensively is elite.”
DALLAS WILLSMORE – 21 disposals, five tackles, one goal
“Dall had 21 touches and was pretty influential for us on the wing. He just uses the ball so well, and his work-rate is second-to-none. He works back defensively for us really well and provides that extra option with our rebound, but not only that he can go forward and hit the scoreboard as well – he kicked 1.1.”
KURT HEATHERLEY – 14 disposals, six marks
“Kurt competed hard all day, he had 14 touches and his pressure acts were up around 20 again. His pressure acts have been brilliant over the last four weeks – that’s what we’re looking for from Kurt, that fight-to-the-death mentality. He’s a real barometer for us – he’s got the ability to win the ball back off oppo boot and took another six marks on the weekend. He’s had a pretty good month, Kurt.”
KADE STEWART – 14 disposals, nine tackles, two goals
“Kade had an impact coming in. He had nine tackles, so he certainly thrives on the contest, he had 14 touches and he kicked two goals. It was a mixture of playing that wing role and up forward. His forward pressure is elite and his mentality is to just put as much pressure on as possible and then trying to get his hands on the footy."
JERMAINE MILLER-LEWIS – 14 disposals, four tackles
“JJ was better this week, he got involved a lot more involved offensively and competed really hard. He’s still developing his game, but certainly provided a little bit of spark off the half-back line.”
ZAC WEBSTER – 11 disposals, four inside 50s
“Webby really set the scene with his first tackle of the game. He comes in hard off the line and provides a real physical presence when he’s playing forward. We probably would have liked him to hit the scoreboard, but his one-wood is probably his pressure. He competes really hard – he tackles and chases and harasses - and will be looking to build on his game this week.”
MARC PITTONET – Eight disposals, 29 hit-outs, nine tackles
“Pitto competed really hard in the ruck, and it’s pretty hard to compete in the (muddy) centre of the ground at the moment. His follow-up work was elite. He’s trying to get first-use for us with the hit-outs, but he also had nine tackles and gave us a second opportunity to win the ball back.”
TIM O’BRIEN – Six disposals, one goal
“We probably didn’t give T.O. the opportunity that we should have, we were probably a bit inefficient with our ball use going inside 50 and probably went in a bit too shallow at times. When T.O. did have the opportunity (to compete), his impact was immediate – he took a couple of strong marks and hit some contests hard at ground level. He had a couple of shots and finished with 1.1."
DEVELOPMENT
LACHIE LANGFORD
“The development boys had a big win and Lachie was instrumental in that. He kicked four goals – three in the third quarter when they really started to kick away from them. He’s working really hard up forward and trying to be that link-up player for us, leading up for his marks and hitting the scoreboard. He’s certainly putting his hand up for senior VFL selection this week."
LUKE SURMAN
“Luke’s another one who’s putting his hand up as well, he’s slowly building his game. He’s got a lot of athletic qualities that we like – he competes hard in the ruck, and similar to Pitto, his follow up work is really good and he ended up with a few tackles. He’s got a great set of hands (up forward) and he uses the ball really well for a big man.”
