With the Hawks ready to take on GWS on Sunday, hawthornfc.com.au looks at the five key players who could impact the result.
1. Shane Mumford (GWS)
Mumford has played four games this season after suffering an injury but has been outstanding in each, particularly in his first three games. He is averaging 42.7 hit outs per game, giving his young midfield teammates first use of the footy.
It’s little wonder why their midfield was performing at such a high standard early in the year, but dropped away in his absence after Round 4.
He is also averaging 12.2 disposals, 3.5 clearances, 7.0 tackles and has kicked two goals in his first four games with the Giants.
His value isn’t just in what he’s able to do with the footy, but more so the physical and intimidating presence he provides. He makes his younger teammates walk taller when he’s on the ground and that’s why his seven tackle average is so important to his team.
With Ben McEvoy out of the Hawthorn side, the ruck duel probably goes in the Giants’ favour, with the Hawks having to turn to developing ruckman Jonathon Ceglar.
Given the Giants are already well performed at the clearances (ranked third in the league, just behind Hawthorn), getting on top in that area will help them be competitive against the Hawks.
2. David Hale (Hawthorn)
With McEvoy out, Hale will partner Ceglar in the ruck for the Hawks and battle the man mountain that is Mumford.
The value of Hale as a ruckman is that he is very mobile for his size and will be able to match Mumford around the packs in his ability to tackle (2.2 average) and win his own footy around the ground (averages 10.6 disposals).
But where his biggest asset lies when spending time in the ruck is in his ability to run hard forward and present as an option inside Hawthorn’s forward 50.
Already the Hawks are so dangerous forward of centre with Luke Breust, Jack Gunston and Jarryd Roughead, all of whom are in the top 10 in the Coleman Medal race but Hale is a very real threat inside 50.
He has taken 11 marks within scoring range this season, ranked fourth at the Hawks, and has also kicked nine goals this season. He has kicked at least a goal in each of his nine games this season, except for two (against Port Adelaide and Brisbane).
Hale’s ability to break even in the ruck when battling Mumford and then push hard forward to make him accountable will be important for the Hawks.
3. Callan Ward (GWS)
The former Bulldog and GWS co-captain is having another outstanding year in the midfield and is becoming one of the game’s elite ball winners.
He is averaging 25.9 disposals this year (ranked number one at his club), in the top 10 in the league for contested possessions (13.1 average), ranked second in the league for clearances (7.3 average) and fourth overall for centre clearances (2.6 average).
Ward is also a hard tackler, averaging 5.6 tackles per game and is damaging forward of centre, averaging 3.1 inside 50s per game.
He led the Giants to an upset win over the Swans in Round 1 with 31 disposals and five tackles and did the same in their win over Melbourne in Round 3 with 26 touches and 11 tackles.
Ward is the midfield leader and like Mumford, inspires his teammates with his actions. If he doesn’t fire, it’s likely neither does GWS.
Callan Ward in action for the Giants this year.
4. Jordan Lewis (Hawthorn)
The Hawthorn vice-captain has now set a new benchmark for himself after last Saturday night’s outstanding performance against the Power.
In one of the best outings of his career, Lewis had 38 disposals, nine clearances, six inside 50s and two goals – it was arguably one of the best games of his career.
But Lewis has been good for the Hawks all year, leading his team in disposals (26.2), contested possessions (9.6), clearances (5.8), centre clearances (2.6) and top four in uncontested possessions (16.2), tackles (3.6) and inside 50s (3.4).
He has helped the Hawks continue their great clearance work despite Sam Mitchell’s absence, with the Hawks ranked second overall in the league for clearances and centre clearances, just above GWS in both areas.
Lewis’ ability to win the ball in close and get the ball going Hawthorn’s way early, in particular, will help the Hawks extinguish any hope the Giants have in causing an upset at the MCG.
5. Jeremy Cameron (GWS)
If the Giants are any hope of winning on Sunday, Cameron will need to kick a bag, so that makes him one of the most dangerous and the player the Hawthorn defence need to stop.
Cameron has kicked 18 goals this season but just one goal in each of his last two games, which just happen to be big losses by over 100 points for his side.
The beauty of the exciting youngster is that he can dominate his opponent both in the air and on the ground, so the Hawks need to have a match-up for him that can go with him in both areas.
So that man could be Ben Stratton because of his ability to play on both talls and smalls.
In last year’s game between the Hawks and Giants, Matt Spangher stood Cameron and was well beaten as the young Giant was one of his side’s best, kicking four goals.
