Saturday night’s clash between Hawthorn and GWS is a pivotal game for both sides.
The Hawks and Giants sit ninth and tenth respectively on the ladder, but the winner of this match will likely find themselves inside the eight by the end of the weekend.
With both sides boasting offensive power, this game poses as a potentially high-scoring affair.
Below are the important match-ups that will go a long way to deciding the outcome of this Round 15 clash.
Ben McEvoy vs Dawson Simpson
Dawson Simpson played his third game of the season, and ninth in the last three years, in Round 14 against the Brisbane Lions. The 29-year old was brave against Lions ruckman Stefan Martin, but the athletic Martin clearly won the duel with his ability to cover the ground as well as dominate the ruck taps. A known student of his opponents, Ben McEvoy will have looked at the tape of last week’s match-up and will be keen to assert a similar dominance to what Martin did last week against the under-conditioned Simpson.
James Frawley vs Jonathon Patton
On the back of the suspension of Jeremy Cameron during the week, Jonathon Patton has now been thrown into the spotlight as the Giants’ clear number one key forward option. The Giants have averaged over 113 points per game over the last three weeks but their ability to continue this offensive force without their six-time leading goal kicker has come under question in his absence. If James Frawley can nullify the 25-year old Patton, it suddenly becomes difficult to see where the Giants’ scoring avenues are coming from.
Isaac Smith vs Lachie Whitfield
Arguably two of the best runners in the league, Isaac Smith and Lachie Whitfield will go head-to-head on Saturday night and good luck to anyone else trying to keep up! Both players are important pieces to their respective sides with their ability to link ball movement from defence to offence. Watch for these two to look for all the space possible on the Spotless Stadium wing this Saturday night.
Tom Mitchell vs Josh Kelly
Two of the premiere midfielders in the competition, Kelly (101 disposals over the past three weeks) and Mitchell (99 disposals over the past three weeks) are both in scintillating form. Both players are natural ball-getters so to stop them is somewhat of an impossible task, but the influence of their touches has been curbed in certain games this year.
