The Hawks will treat this weekend’s clash with the Giants ‘as a final’, according to midfielder Jaeger O’Meara, as the side prepares to launch an assault on this year’s finals series.
The Hawks, who are currently outside the eight on percentage only, will look to claim their first-ever win at Spotless Stadium over the 10th placed Giants, with the winner a chance to jump into the top half of the ladder by round’s end.
“They’ve been a little bit inconsistent but when they’re at their best, like any side in the competition, they can beat anyone” O’Meara told RSN on Tuesday.
“So this weekend we’ll be treating it like a final(s) game.
“I think the Hawks haven’t beaten them at Spotless yet so I’m really looking forward to the game and it should be a good one.”
After managing just six games in his first season in brown and gold last year, O’Meara has played 12 of a possible 13 games so far, with the 2013 Rising Star Award winner saying he’s physically in great shape.
“I’m feeling good, I think the bye came at a really good time for me,” the 24-year-old said.
“Not just my knee, but the rest of my body as well, it’s probably just taken me a little bit of time to adjust to the rigors of AFL footy.
“I know that I can back it up now and I’ve got my body in a really good place and fingers crossed I can keep it there.”
O’Meara also lauded the impact of coach Alastair Clarkson since arriving at the club, pointing to the relationship he has with his players as being equally as impressive as his tactical genius.
“He’s been awesome for me,” the midfielder said.
“He’s always trying to come up with new ways to get better as a side and improve us individually as well.
“But I think his care for his players is the thing that stands out for me, and that was from the get-go too.
“He was asking questions about family and wanted to go back to the small town where I’m from in Dongara and go and visit my parents and just little things like that make a difference.”
