Hawthorn faces the tough task this weekend of taking on a rampant West Coast Eagles side.
The Eagles have lost just one of their opening nine matches, as they sit a game ahead of the second-placed Richmond.
Here is a look at some of the pivotal match-ups that will decide whether the Hawks overcome a down fortnight or the Eagles continue their impressive form.
Match preview: Hawthorn v West Coast
David Mirra vs Jack Darling
If this match-up was to take place, it would be the toughest assignment of David Mirra’s four-game career so far. Jack Darling is not only in career-best form, he is one the most in-form players in the competition at the moment. Darling is coming off a monster game against Richmond last week in which he gathered 21 disposals, 15 marks and booted six goals. However inexperienced he may be, Mirra does pose as the best match-up to take on Darling, being of similar dimension and athleticism. Mirra’s strength in the contest should be able to influence Jack Darling, who is leading the league for contested marks this season, averaging 3.3 per game.
Ben McEvoy vs Nic Naitanui
Or Ben McEvoy versus Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett. The Eagles rank second in the league for hit-outs this season, thanks to their double-edged pairing. At the beginning of the season, Lycett was selected for his ability to offer a chop-out to the under-done Naitanui. But the duo has excelled to the point where they have co-existed through the first nine rounds. Ben McEvoy was the best player afield the last time these two sides met in Round 5 last year. But that was against an Eagles ruck combination of Nathan Vardy and a pinch-hitting Jeremy McGovern. How Big Boy fares against a much more difficult ruck proposition this time around will go a long way towards deciding the outcome of this match.
Read: Two's company, says McEvoy
Isaac Smith vs Andrew Gaff
Arguably the two best running men in the league, it would be an unenviable task trying to keep up with either of these men over a four-quarter journey. Luckily for everyone else, Smith and Gaff will likely go head-to-head this weekend. Both left-footed wingmen are having arguably the best years of their respective careers, with Gaff and Smith both having more scoreboard impact than they ever have this season. This match-up will be one to watch this weekend to see which player can give their side better drive between the two arcs.
Jarryd Roughead vs Jeremy McGovern
The Eagles combated Richmond’s under-sized forward line with a small defensive group last week, with McGovern and Tom Barrass their only defenders taller than 187cm. Whether they opt for an extra big body against the Hawks remains to be seen but, regardless, it seems likely that Roughead will have McGovern for company on Sunday afternoon. Roughead has averaged 20.3 possessions, 6.3 marks and two goals over his last three encounters against the Eagles. Roughead will be hoping to not only have an offensive impact for his side, but also aid in the Hawks’ curtailing of McGovern’s influence from the Eagles’ back half.
