With the Hawks ready to take on Adelaide tonight, hawthornfc.com.au looks at the five key players who could impact the result.
1. Ben McEvoy (Hawthorn)
The big ruckman will finally make his return to Hawthorn’s senior side tonight after playing three games for Box Hill following a hamstring injury.
The Hawks recruit sustained the injury the last time he was in Adelaide, subbed off at half time in the round 10 loss to Port Adelaide.
McEvoy busted the selection door down in his three games in the reserves, amassing five goals (all kicked in a best on ground performance), 17 marks and 73 hit-outs during this time.
With Brian Lake out of the Hawks side, Ryan Schoenmakers could be sent back into defence to tackle one of three big Crows forwards, which may require McEvoy to play a ruck/forward role similar to the position he played in his seven games before injury.
Having built rhythm and match fitness during his time at Box Hill, McEvoy will be keen to carry this form into Friday night and grasp his spot as the Hawks’ first ruck choice.
His role for Hawthorn against Adelaide is crucial, given the form of opposing ruckman Sam Jacobs who is in All Australian form.
2. Sam Jacobs (Adelaide)
As just highlighted, Jacobs is having another outstanding season as Adelaide’s number one ruckman.
Jacobs leads all ruckmen for disposals (17.1) and marks (4.6) per game, while his average of 30.6 hit-outs and 2.9 clearances ranks him in the top five for his position.
His disposal efficiency of 73.5 per cent also places him in the top echelon of ruckman and is especially impressive given he has recorded more kicks than any other ruckman this year (8.9 per game).
The last time Jacobs played at Adelaide Oval he produced his best game of the season and arguably the best of his career in the Crows’ 23-point Round 15 win over Port Adelaide.
Jacobs kicked three crucial goals and gathered 19 disposals to accompany 36 hit-outs in that game.
A combined effort from Jonathon Ceglar and Ben McEvoy will be required to combat the in-form 26 year old, with the ruck battle likely to have a large say in the outcome of Friday’s contest.
3. Angus Litherland (Hawthorn)
The young defender has been a valuable part of the Hawks line-up since a breakout game in the win over the Giants in Round 11.
The 21 year bold has stood up in the absence of Josh Gibson, Brian Lake and Ben Stratton with his speed and height adding flexibility to Hawthorn’s defensive set up.
Standing at 192 cm, Litherland has the size to play on the opposition’s tall targets, while his athleticism for his size and ability at ground level allows him to compete well with agile small forwards.
His tackling pressure and booming right foot has been a highlight of his game since securing a place in the Hawthorn side and will bode well on Friday night in what is forecast to be similarly wet conditions to the games he has excelled in this season.
With the Crows boasting a tall trio of Taylor Walker, Josh Jenkins and James Podsiadly – with Eddie Betts lurking at their feet – Litherland could be required to play on a variety of opponents as the Hawks try to overcome Adelaide’s dangerous forward line.
Angus Litherland in action for the Hawks.
4. Luke Brown (Adelaide)
In Melbourne he’s probably a little known player but the small defender has played a vital role for the Crows this season.
He has played every game and shut down some of the game’s best small forwards, including Collingwood’s Jamie Elliott in Round 9 who has kicked more goals than any other Magpie this season.
In that game, an upset win for the Crows, Brown held Elliott goalless and restricted him to just 10 disposals.
He also did the job on Hayden Ballantyne in the loss to Fremantle in Perth in Round 12, holding him to 10 touches and a goal.
A no-fuss defender, Brown will likely be tasked with stopping the dangerous Luke Breust, who has kicked 39 goals for the Hawks this year and been one of their most consistent performers.
Brown has also averaged 13.9 disposals this year and can provide some good drive off half-back for his team.
Luke Brown in action for Adelaide.
5. Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
We had to throw him in because he’s just an absolute gun and Dangerfield picked up three Brownlow votes against the Hawks in the last meeting between the two sides, in Round 6 last year.
In that game, Dangerfield had 35 disposals and kicked two goals.
Already this year, the explosive midfielder has inspired his team to upset wins over Collingwood and Port Adelaide, with 32 disposals in each of those games.
Opposition teams who bump into him at every opportunity target him physically but he’s tough and determined and never lets his team down.
The Hawks will need to contain him, particularly around the stoppages because his ability to burst through and get separation on his man because of his speed is inspiring for his team.
Liam Shiels could find his way onto him but someone like a Jordan Lewis could stand him at the stoppages.
