With the whole of Australia wrapped up in the midst of the tennis season, that AO fever has found it's way to Waverley.
So, as we countdown the days 'til footy returns (65, if you were wondering), we thought we’d turn our attentions to a different sport...
If our Hawks were tennis players, what sort of player would they be? And more importantly, who would win?
Here's our take.
Ben Stratton v James Sicily
Partial to wearing a Pat Cash-esque head band (with his mighty mullet flowing behind), Stratton’s strong suit would lie in his net game. An aggressive volleyer, Stratts would have no hesitation in using an intimidating approach from the get-go against any opponent, putting them under constant pressure and causing many a forced (and unforced) error.
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An explosive talent, Sicily would hit that little green ball as well as anyone. But, his susceptibility to letting his, err… ‘passion’… for the game boil over may prove to be his Achilles heel. Our Sis certainly wouldn’t be afraid to let any chair umpire know how he felt. Watch out Johnny Mac – you might have some competition.
Shaun Burgoyne v Tom Mitchell
The elder statesman of the group, ‘Silk’ would not only move across the court with grace, but hit some incredible shots with it too, relying on finesse rather than power to overcome his opponents. Whether he’s on the baseline, or pressed hard up against the net – Burgoyne will silkily knock it down to his advantage. Feder-esque.
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He knows how to find the ball, and on the tennis court there would be no exception. Mitchell would have the tennis ball on a string; whether his opponent hits a tidy lob or slaps a forehand down the line, our PCM Medallist would just find it, and hit it back.
Jaeger O’Meara v Jack Gunston
A powerful athlete, O’Meara’s ground strokes would worry his opponents to no end. Likely armed with both a damaging forehand and backhand, O’Meara would play an aggressive, game from the baseline overpowering opponents with high-risk winners.
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Utilising his height, Gunston would boast an imposing serve, while an impressive reach would also ensure that little gets past him. The triple-premiership Hawk’s ability to run all day means he’d also have no issues outlasting an opponent should a match go to five sets.
Luke Breust v Jackson Ross
Breust’s skill and craftiness would shine through with racquet in hand, with the 27-year-old able to pull off the seemingly impossible. Second to none when it would come to placement and execution of shots, Breust’s use of the irretrievable drop shot would prove a significant asset.
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The new kid on the block, Ross was a high-ranking junior tennis player before turning his attention to football. While we are admittedly unaware of Ross’ game style, his long limbs and 193cm stature suggest he would boast strong court coverage, a mean serve, and that uncanny ability to just keep getting it back.
So, if our Hawks were Australian Open contenders, who would come out on top?
Tell us what you think – vote now.
