While the Bulldogs don’t have one key focal point up forward in the mold of a Lance Franklin or Roughead, their forward line poses a different threat.
Shaun Higgins, Luke Dahlhaus and Tory Dickson have all proved so far this season that they are capable of kicking multiple goals.
Roughead has faith in the Club’s defensive group, however, but acknowledges that facing the smaller forwards will be a challenge.
“That’s probably the hardest thing, because you’ve got probably six, seven or eight guys rolling through their forward line so any one of them could pop up and kick three or four,” Roughead said.
“Our defenders will have to be on their toes all game, but it’ll be a good challenge for them knowing that there’s not one key, focal point down there.
“They will all have to work together to beat the Bulldogs.”
Roughead’s faith in the defensive group is backed up by the stats of the Hawks versus teams with small forward lines.
In Round 14, the Hawks defeated the Blues by 50 points at the MCG.
The Blues were without front man Jarrad Waite, Shaun Hampson had little impact while Eddie Betts, Chris Yarran and Jeff Garlett had little impact.
Roughead says that the fact that the Hawks have faced a similar set up before, holds the team in good stead for the Bulldogs forward line.
“(The defenders) have performed well against those small forwards in previous games,” he said.
“Knowing that we can do that gives the defenders and I suppose the midfielders the confidence to know that the boys can do it and hopefully win more games.”
The Hawks journey to Etihad Stadium on Sunday for the first time since the pre-season competition, having played nine matches at the MCG so far.
That won’t worry the Hawks, however, despite the Bulldogs having played eight matches at the venue so far, including three of their past four matches.
“It will be (a little different) with atmosphere but a lot of the boys have obviously played there before and it’s not like it’s foreign territory,” Roughead said.
“They probably know how to play there a bit better, if there is such a thing but we’ve played there before.
“It will be interesting, but nothing to worry about.”
Kate Salemme is a member of Hawthorn Football Club’s Digital media team reporting exclusively for hawthornfc.com.au from the Ricoh Centre.
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