Hawthorn travels west to face Fremantle at Optus Stadium for the first time this weekend.
The Round 19 match-up represents a must-win game for the Hawks as they continue to hunt a piece of September action.
Here are some of the match-ups we believe will prove pivotal in deciding the outcome of this game.
Tom Mitchell vs Bailey Banfield
Bailey Banfield is a first-year midfielder who has been charged with the responsibility of tagging roles throughout his debut season. Last week coach Ross Lyon handed him the assignment of reigning All Australian midfielder Zach Merrett. Banfield limited Merrett to just 15 touches and two clearances in the opening three quarters before the Essendon on-baller got off the leash to add 13 disposals and five clearances in a dominant final term. Banfield’s task gets even more difficult this week as he will likely be asked to limit the impact of another All Australian midfielder in Tom Mitchell. Mitchell is coming off a 46-possession, two-goal performance last week. This match-up will certainly be an interesting one to watch.
Jon Ceglar vs the Fremantle ruckman
The ruck battle figures as an important area ahead of Sunday’s clash, although it is unclear exactly how it will look at this stage. Jon Ceglar had arguably the best game of his career against Carlton in Round 18, gathering 16 touches and 37 hit-outs, and he will be intent on continuing his form. While, for the Dockers, they are giving champion ruckman Aaron Sandilands every chance to return from his four-week stint on the sidelines. His replacement, Sean Darcy, was also sidelined last week after being a late withdrawal from their game with Essendon, paving the way for rookie Scott Jones to play the fourth game of his career. If it is Sandilands, Ceglar faces one of the toughest big-man challenges in the game, but if the four-time All Australian ruckman is not selected then the Hawks will be hoping Ceglar can provide dominance in the air.
Jack Gunston vs Joel Hamling
Jack Gunston would look back on his last meeting with the Dockers fondly. Not only did the Hawks have a 52-point win in Perth, but Gunston also recorded a career-high 35 touches to go along with his eight marks and a goal playing in the backline. Lining up in the forward line this Sunday, the likely defender for Gunston figures to be Joel Hamling. The similarly-sized Hamling will look to curtail the Hawthorn sharp-shooter who has been in superb touch over the past five weeks, having booted 12 goals and averaged 18.6 touches over the period.
Bradley Hill vs Isaac Smith
Having gone head-to-head over so many pre-season time trials, Bradley Hill and Isaac Smith look set to again face-off, this time on the Optus Stadium wing this Sunday. Hill faces the Hawks for the second time since leaving the Ricoh Centre at the end of the 2016 season. He was one of the Dockers’ best in the two sides’ Round 17 clash last year, gathering 25 touches. Meanwhile, Isaac Smith is amidst one of the best seasons of his career, averaging a career-high 1.2 goals per game to go with his 22.4 possessions. This match-up promises hard-running, high speed and elite skill.
