The Hawks take on expansion club Greater Western Sydney for premiership points for the first time on Sunday at the MCG.

The Hawks took on the Giants at Aurora Stadium during the pre-season competition, and enjoyed a runaway 74-point victory. The Hawks were without a number of stars including Lance Franklin, Cyril Rioli and Jarryd Roughead, instead opting to give youngsters the opportunity to impress.

It was the senior brigade, however, who starred for the Hawks, with Ryan Schoenmakers, David Hale, Grant Birchall, Luke Hodge, Luke Breust and Shaun Burgoyne all named in the best.


Looking ahead

The Giants have been impressive in their first season in the AFL, with coach Kevin Sheedy employing a ‘play-on at all costs’ game plan that has encouraged the Giants’ youngsters to play their natural game.

Boasting a number of senior players who have spent time in the AFL system with various other clubs, Callan Ward, James McDonald and Phil Davis in particular have led the way for their young teammates.

Leadership is an important aspect to the development and ability for a team to carry out the coaches’ game style, and veteran players like Luke Power (although will miss this week through injury), Chad Cornes, McDonald, Ward and Davis have been crucial.

Ward in particular has flourished in his role at his new club, taking on greater responsibly and leading the Giants’ young midfield. So far in 2012, Ward has achieved a number of personal bests, including career-highs in disposals (36 against West Coast), kicks (21 against West Coast) and marks (eight against Melbourne).

Those career highs have resulted in the midfielder averaging 24.2 disposals per game in his 13 matches so far. That is, Ward is gathering a further 3.5 disposals per game than in his 2011 season with the Western Bulldogs, when he averaged 20.7 disposals per game over 22 matches.

Co-Captain Davis has emerged as one of the best recruits for the Giants, with the former Crow enjoying spells both up forward and in defence. His leadership, hardness and commitment to win the football has served set the standard for his teammates. He too has managed more disposals since crossing to the Giants, averaging 15 disposals per game, up from 12.6 in his breakout 2010 season with the Crows.

The Giants boast a plethora of talented youngsters, with Toby Greene and Stephen Coniglio arguably two of the most impressive so far this season.

Greene has averaged a team-high 24.5 disposals in his 11 matches, including 31 disposals against the Swans last week. His ability to find the football will be key to the Giants’ ability to match it with the Hawks on Sunday.

Coniglio is the other to impress, as last year’s number two draft pick continues to prove why he was taken so early in the draft. Coniglio is balanced, has good skills and has no trouble finding the football, averaging 20.7 disposals in his debut season. He also chips in for three clearances per game.

Sunday afternoon could see the first of many battles between Hawthorn’s Ryan Schoenmakers and Greater Western Sydney’s Jonathon Patton. Patton made his debut three weeks ago against Richmond to much fanfare, impressing the football world with his marking and agility. The match-up shapes as one to watch, as both players aim to underline their credentials at AFL level.


What Brendan Whitecross said: “These younger players can get a lot of confidence throughout the game and build on it.

“Confidence is a great thing and you can do anything when you’ve got that behind you. The younger players are going to be the ones to look out for.”


Sian Mann on Facebook: “Don’t underestimate any side. Regardless of their age and experience, Hawthorn should throw everything they have at them and continue with the consistently good form we’ve shown for the past month.”