1. Paul Puopolo (Hawthorn)
The Hawks’ pressure specialist continues to increase his offensive output, providing a lead-up target as a forward and having an impact through the midfield.
Puopolo also added some moments of magic in his team’s win over Collingwood last week. With the game in the balance approaching three-quarter time, Puopolo gave a clever aerial tap-on to Cyril Rioli, which resulted in a Bradley Hill goal. Less than two minutes later, he flew to take a pack hanger, then goaled from 45 metres to give the Hawks a 27-point lead and set up the win.
On Saturday, Puopolo will come up against a quick Suns outfit, making him crucial in the battle for pace through the midfield and forward pressure.
Puopolo will have his work cut out for him with the speed of Dion Prestia and penetrating ball-use of Kade Kolodjashnij and Trent McKenzie, players who are key to the Suns’ hopes of knocking off the Hawks.
2. Dion Prestia (Gold Coast)
While most focus on the impact of Gary Ablett on matches, the emergence of Prestia in the last two years has been an important factor in Gold Coast’s rise.
While Ablett is a champion of the game, he needs players around him to contribute and now he’s getting that from Prestia and David Swallow.
While small in stature at just 175cm, Prestia doesn’t let his lack of height impact his ability to make an impact at the game’s highest level and is in fact turning into one of the best midfielders in the competition.
He is ranked second to Ablett in all the key stats – disposals (average 29.3 per game), contested possessions (12.4), clearances (5.7) and centre clearances (1.8) but where he is the most valuable is in his ability to spread and provide outside run.
The nuggetty midfielder is ranked number one at the Suns for uncontested possessions with an average of 17.1 per game. He has also hit the scoreboard this year with six goals.
The Hawks will need to put time into shutting him down through the middle because he is the rounded midfielder who does both the hard stuff and the flashy on the outside.
He is a key player for the Suns on Saturday.
Prestia celbrates a goal for the Suns.
3. Harley Bennell (Gold Coast)
The former number two draft pick is a game breaker, there is no other way to describe him. He is quick, has exquisite skills and can break into space and make it look easy.
He had another breakout game against the Cats last Saturday, booting six goals from half forward and pushing up in the midfield but also managed to pick up 27 disposals and take 11 marks. Astonishingly, he also kicked three behinds, so the damage he inflicted could have been a lot worse.
Bennell was injured when the Hawks beat the Suns by 99 points in Round 4, so his inclusion will immediately make his side better.
The form he is bringing into Saturday’s game is scintillating, the question for Hawthorn is, will they go defensive on him and potentially relinquish a game breaker of their own like a Bradley Hill to try and stop him?
4. Jack Gunston (Hawthorn)
With the Suns key defenders likely to have their hands full with Jarryd Roughead and the Hawks’ resting ruckmen Jonathon Ceglar and David Hale, Gunston will look to exploit the undersized Gold Coast defence as he did in the Round 4 win.
Gunston was best on ground last time the two teams met, kicking five goals while collecting 25 disposals and 10 marks.
The medium-sized forward has added another string to his bow this season, roaming far up the wings and even into defence, recording career-high numbers in disposals (16), marks (6.9) and goals (2.5) per game.
After booting just the one goal last week, look for Gunston to build heavily on his 30 goals for the season and hopefully lead the Hawks to victory.
Jack Gunston celebrates a goal.
5. Isaac Smith (Hawthorn)
The Suns have caused the Hawks headaches before with their speed in transition and quick ball movement, so the impact of players like Smith and Hill for Hawthorn is important.
An area in which the Hawks exposed Collingwood last week was their ability to quickly transition from defence to offence and break into space on the wings before allowing the forwards the chance at one-on-one contests with their defenders.
Hawthorn’s ability to again do that to expose an undersized Gold Coast defence will be crucial and Smith is one of the key players in that area.
Smith works back hard in defence and is ranked third at the Hawks for defensive 50 rebounds – he is often the player the Hawks like to release into space to begin the counterattack.
He is ranked first for running bounces – so he’s the main source along with Hill for Hawthorn’s running capacity through the middle.
If he can get off the leash and team up with Hill (the preferred forward 50 deliverer), then that will give the likes of Gunston and Roughead the opportunity to lead-up and take easy marks.
