Hawks back Schoenmakers
Hawks backline coach Luke Beveridge says Ryan Schoenmakers can nullify Collingwood danger man Travis Cloke
HAWTHORN backline coach Luke Beveridge says Ryan Schoenmakers can nullify Collingwood danger man Travis Cloke on Friday night.
Cloke made an impressive return to form against Essendon last week, grabbing 16 marks and booting five goals.
Schoenmakers has played on the 2011 All Australian twice this season.
In round one, Cloke took seven marks and had 18 disposals, booting 2.3, but in round 17 the big Magpie could manage only two marks and one goal as Schoenmakers comfortably won the duel.
And Beveridge is confident the 21-year-old can do it again in the qualifying final.
"Ryan played on him last time and did an outstanding job," Beveridge said on Tuesday.
"He has had him in both games this season and I've been over the moon with his games on Travis.
"He's had an enormous year for us.
"Week-to-week we try and support each other in whatever we do down back.
"Whether it's Collingwood or West Coast or Sydney, we've come up against some tall timber of late and we try and support each other in the air and at ground level, so we'll be looking to do the same.
"Travis had a really good game last week, and he kicked half a dozen against GWS a couple of weeks ago, so we know how dangerous he is and we know we need to curb his influence to make sure we win the game."
Beveridge said it would make little difference to Hawthorn's planning whether the Magpies recalled big man Chris Dawes to play alongside Cloke or not.
"From a personnel perspective, no," he said.
"Our roles would probably alter a little bit [if he played], but it doesn't change a lot about what we do at the selection table, I wouldn't have thought.
"Young Jackson Paine came in last week and played a role [for the Magpies], and played pretty well.
"We're not trying to pre-empt what they do with Chris, whether they bring him in or not, but we just need to be ready if he does play."
Beveridge also said the Hawks were still considering how best to cover for injured half-back Brent Guerra, and weren't set on his replacement being a recognised defender.
"We're still a bit undecided on whether we bring in a back and get them to play that role," Beveridge said.
"The best thing about our group is that they know what the roles are; they're fairly clearly defined.
"So whoever comes in, or whoever shuffles down, will know what's expected.
"A few of the boys played well in the final at VFL level last week.
"Xavier [Ellis], Shane Savage, and some of the backs, Kyle Cheney and Tommy Murphy.
"So there are a number of options there for us."