Star Hawk Isaac Smith has lauded the recent form of teammate James Sicily, labelling him the competition’s ‘best player’ over the last four weeks.
The triple-premiership wingman said Sicily had responded admirably after being suspended twice in three weeks earlier in the season, with his recent form culminating in a best-on-ground performance in the side’s win over the Crows on Saturday night.
“To see his growth has been huge and to see him playing consistent footy, I think the last three or four weeks he’s probably been the best player in the competition,” Smith told RSN on Wednesday.
“So he’s playing some pretty awesome footy at the moment.”
Sicily gathered 24 disposals playing off half back and kicked three long-range goals – all of which came in the third term – as the Hawks showed off some of their best form for the season.
Hawthorn piled on seven goals while keeping Adelaide scoreless, with the quarter their best since the side completed its premiership threepeat in 2015, according to Smith.
“That third quarter felt like a couple of the quarters that we pulled together in that ’13, ’14, ’15 period,” the 29-year-old said.
“Talking to the boys on the weekend after coming off a game and talking about the third quarter they were just like ‘wow that’s probably the best quarter of football we’ve played in the last two or three years’.”
“To get that inner-belief, especially out of a game on the weekend was quite pleasing.”
