Jack Gunston v Harris Andrews
Two players who were best on ground for their respective sides in Round 11. Gunston was magnificent for the Hawks with six goals from his 21 touches, while Andrews took a game-high 10 marks – four of which were contested – in the Lions’ loss to Fremantle. The key pair may not spend the entire day alongside each other but their ability to impact the game will go a long way to deciding whether it’s the Hawks or the Lions who claim the four premiership points in this clash.
James Sicily v Daniel Rich
Another match-up that will see both players unlikely to brush shoulders too often. But Sicily and Rich are the types that their respective teams want the ball in the hands of. Both defenders are sublime kicks who much prefer to dispose by foot than by hand with 79.9 per cent of Rich’s total possessions being kicks, while Sicily runs at 77.9 per cent of his disposals. These two are key barometers for their sides.
Ricky Henderson v Hugh McCluggage
Two men who would be firmly in the conversation of the All Australian wing positions as we arrive at the half-way point in the season. Henderson has been remarkable this season at continuously accumulating high-possession tallies, sitting inside the league’s top 20 for total disposals. McCluggage isn’t quite amassing the level of ball that Henderson is, averaging 22.9 touches per game, but his scoreboard impact, kicking 12 goals already this year, speaks to the threat he poses to opposition sides.
