1. Are Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell in career-best form?
It would be a big call to suggest that Hawks stars Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell are in career-best form – but it’s a question that needs to be asked.
The veteran midfielders collected 32 and 35 disposals respectively against Carlton on Friday night, and have been finding the ball at will this season.
Hodge is averaging 28.1 disposals in 2015, while Mitchell is averaging 30.5 disposals and reached 30 disposals for the tenth time in 15 games in Round 16.
2. Can the Hawks get better?
The Hawks have won eight in a row, including big wins against Fremantle, Sydney Swans and Carlton over the past three weeks.
But vice-captain Jordan Lewis believes the competition’s highest-scoring side still has room to improve.
“I think we've got a group at the moment where we require little tweaks," he said.
3. Jack Gunston is building nicely
By his own high standards, Jack Gunston admits he had an up-and-down start to the season.
But he now has 10 goals in the past two weeks – four against Sydney Swans and six against Carlton – and 200 career goals from 95 games.
The 23-year-old now sits ninth in the Coleman Medal race with 37 goals from 16 matches.
4. Name the Hawks’ best 22…
With plenty of players pushing for spots, it’s sure to be another tough week at the selection table for Alastair Clarkson and the Hawks’ match committee.
Liam Shiels, Ben Stratton, Taylor Duryea and James Frawley could all be pushing for senior selection this week, while Jon Ceglar and Jed Anderson have been beating the door down in the VFL.
But who makes way?
The Hawks have been strong right across the ground in recent weeks, with players such as Angus Litherland and Jonathan O’Rourke stepping up from the VFL and making an immediate impact.
The pressure for spots is sure to be driving the Hawks’ playing group.
5. How important are the next two weeks?
Massive.
The Hawks play fellow top-four contenders Richmond and West Coast Eagles in the next fortnight.
Two wins will have the Hawks in prime position to claim a top-four finish, but the Tigers and Eagles are both in good form and sure to present a massive challenge for the reigning premiers.
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