HAWTHORN are preparing for a fierce contest from a Collingwood team on the rebound in tomorrow’s blockbuster at the MCG.
The Pies were beaten by the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium last Sunday in a game they were expected to win comfortably.
Assistant Coach Brett Ratten says there’s no doubt Nathan Buckley’s team will come out breathing fire from the opening bounce on Saturday.
“They’ll set a tone early and it’s our challenge to match or better that,” Ratten told hawthornfc.com.au
“They’re going to try and make amends for last week because we know they’re a very, very good team who play a good brand of footy.”
Collingwood are the number one tackling team in the competition, averaging 76 tackles per game this season, an aspect in which their game style is built around.
Ratten says it is in their ability to force turnovers from their pressure that is critical to their success this season and something in which the Hawthorn players will need to be ready to embrace.
The Hawks win more of the ball than any other time in the league, averaging 403 possessions per game and protects it with class with their elite disposal by hand and foot.
The Hawks assistant says it will be the ability of the Hawthorn players to execute that possession game style under the frantic Collingwood pressure.
“It fuels their game in regards to they love having that tackling pressure and thrive on the pressure and turning the ball over,” he said.
“It’ll be about how we can use the ball under that duress because we know they’ve been a great tackling team for a few years now and it’s something they do well.”
Ratten says though disposal by foot is an area in which the Hawks need to improve on their performance last week, declaring the disposal into the forward line was at times, below the standard expected despite the 28-point win over Carlton.
He says that skill execution will be critical in taking the opportunities when they present on Saturday.
“Last week at times we probably had some opportunities going inside 50 and didn’t capitalise on them,” Ratten said.
“It’s going to be that type of game where we need to be fairly efficient going forward.
“Last week we didn’t use the footy quite as well as we can. Momentum is a big thing, it’s about capitalising on it and nullifying when they’ve got it.”
The Hawks won’t be going out to stop the likes of Scott Pendlebury, Dayne Beams or Dane Swan, however; instead they will focus on nullifying their impact with ball in hand.
“It’s hard to stop any midfield in the competition, they’re going to win the footy we know that,” Ratten said.
“It’s about how they use the footy and if we can nullify that, it would be fantastic.
“(But) We need to be able to win the footy to try and dictate the terms from there.”
