Autopsy Round 7, 2025: Hawks pluck the Eagles

[Simon Crawshay]

I'm loving watching Gunners turn back the clock.

We aren't humming yet but we don't need to be, it aint August. Most of what's going wrong is controllable on our end.

Huss played well, Wards last quater was excellent, Chol is having a fantastic year. And, Dear looked great in the 2's.

It's a week to be happy not grumpy.

Agreed.

Missing so many set shots though is really giving me the absolute irates.

Still 5 and 2, looking at how tough our start to the year was you would have taken that in a heartbeat before the season started.

 

[SJT76]

Hustwaite the biggest positive for me. Should get a block of games, which is great for him and us.

Ward pulled it together in the 4th. Got some goals into the forwards. Meek dominated.

Injuries suck though.

 

[ReturningHawk]

goodness me, there are some incredibly ignorant comments here, I guess from people who have never played the game.
Chol has been nothing short of fabulous this year, the job he has done has been nothing short of amazing.
Whether forward or around the ground, he has been a star. Thank goodness we have him, as in the absence of Dear and Lewis the Hawks would really be struggling.

You can defend Chol without overstating things, he was good last 2 week, but this year has been a mixed bag so far. Was subbed out of the Giants game and his Port game was unspeakable. Credit to him for bouncing back to his best. Will be interesting to see him matched with some new and old faces in the coming weeks.

I am honestly not sure how you fit Lewis in the team. For a 200cm ket forward, his ground work and pressure is absolutely elite.

You give him one or two weeks at Box Hill, then you write his name on the team sheet and take someone else's off it. He's the only forward on our list with the size and strength to hold his position in the contest, unless you're counting Tom Barrass. He plays if fit, like he has since Sam started coaching this team.

 

[OhhhhhCyril]

Happy to be corrected, but in all honesty there wasn’t a lot to like about tonight’s performance
I thought we were sloppy across the ground, and if we were playing a roper team we would have been found out.

HH and BMac to keep their spot next week. Concussion to scrim and amon make it interesting.

 

[Paul Kersey]

Such a lottery going to games live.

I was level 3 in the GA and it was fine (actually sat right behind the well known Hawks tragic and former Test Cricketer Damien Fleming!).

But you draw the short straw and get stuck next to a bunch of feral f..k wits like you unfortunately did and it can ruin your whole night.

Unfortunately more and more of these types of low bred ingrates around these days . They get away with way too much in public places like the footy, public transport, etc.

People around me in aisle 36 weren't offensive but I was surrounded by middle aged men (both Hawthorn/WCE) jumping out of their seats crying 50/free etc (as usual weren't there most of the time). When they weren't paid had their voices got up an octave or two. Legit sounded like they were going to cry a couple of times. Sorry can't handle that. Happy to be back in my season seat next week.

 

[Paul Kersey]

Yeah I was level 2 and “Everybody!” cheering guy was a few rows in front of me. Great passion, though thought he was going to have a stroke. Seats felt like the stadium equivalent of Jetstar - knees lodged firmly against back of the seat in the row in front. Marvel is such a soulless place compared to the G.

Yeah felt like I was in an airplane. I'm five eleven and knees jammed. Terrible venue can't stand it. Next time probably won't reserve a seat will either stand or go up back of top level.

 

[Dipper Here]

 

[ReturningHawk]

He didn't look impressed, did he?

Mitchell explained it well in the presser that he would like experienced players to have positional flexibility. This isn't a completely new thing - TB and Scrim were both having goal kicking practice at training so it's likely something we've wanted to do for a while.

That being said TB looked completely lost as a forward. Surprised it wasn't Battle.

I think Mini was surprised too when it wasn't Battle, or Sicily, or Weddle, or Hardwick, or Impey. I agree that Mitchell explained clearly, although it's never so much as happened at training to my knowledge. Did seem a strange coincidence that in this game TB goes forward for the first time in his career.

I didn't like the move only because I think our defence needs every minute playing together they can get, especially the new blokes.

 

[extractasam]

Yeah I was level 2 and “Everybody!” cheering guy was a few rows in front of me. Great passion, though thought he was going to have a stroke. Seats felt like the stadium equivalent of Jetstar - knees lodged firmly against back of the seat in the row in front. Marvel is such a soulless place compared to the G.

You say have a stroke in jest but that exact guy round 1 2022 was doing that thing all day, then in the 3rd qtr wound one up so hard he passed out in his seat. Had to go sit in the shade 5 rows back (was a hot day from memory)

 

[Dipper Here]

Quite a few concerns, Mitchell didn’t look overly impressed on the bench post-game.

Scrimshaw second concussion of the year..worrying with how bad Sicily has been.

Gunston AA?

Would love Serong to come in next week. Imagine it will be out of CJ, Finn and Serong to fill the two spots left by Amon and Scrinshaw

Frosty wants a word mate.

 

[hawkman]

I always find it interesting the contrast in opinion on here between Mackenzie and Ward
Ward today 23 disposals, 11 contested, DE 70%, 7 tackles, 5 clearances, 1 turnover, 1 goal assist, 7 score involvements, 208 metres gained
Mackenzie today 20 disposals, 10 contested, DE 60%, 9 tackles, 4 clearances, 7 turnovers, 0 goal assists, 4 score involvements, 461 metres gained

Always feel Mackenzie gets away with a lot more on here compared to Ward

 

[lethalselbow]

Was happy getting a win after playing a tough match vs Geelong, six days back. 50 pt win was nice, but could have been more with better goal kicking.

Chol really good. Hustwaite good return to the big league.

Two concussions not fun for next week. Interesting to see who gets a call up. Is it too early for Dear? Great half game at Box Hill.

 

[lethalselbow]

I always find it interesting the contrast in opinion on here between Mackenzie and Ward
Ward today 23 disposals, 11 contested, DE 70%, 7 tackles, 5 clearances, 1 turnover, 1 goal assist, 7 score involvements, 208 metres gained
Mackenzie today 20 disposals, 10 contested, DE 60%, 9 tackles, 4 clearances, 7 turnovers, 0 goal assists, 4 score involvements, 461 metres gained

Always feel Mackenzie gets away with a lot more on here compared to Ward

Watch the game. The stats don't always tell the complete picture.

Ward's first half was pretty patchy. His last quarter saved his day. Was an outstanding last quarter. Hopefully takes that form into next week.

Mackenzie is always a silky mover and takes the game on. Clearly ahead of Ward and a year younger. Didn't realise he had 7 turnovers. Great tackling and pressure throughout game.

 

[extractasam]

I always find it interesting the contrast in opinion on here between Mackenzie and Ward
Ward today 23 disposals, 11 contested, DE 70%, 7 tackles, 5 clearances, 1 turnover, 1 goal assist, 7 score involvements, 208 metres gained
Mackenzie today 20 disposals, 10 contested, DE 60%, 9 tackles, 4 clearances, 7 turnovers, 0 goal assists, 4 score involvements, 461 metres gained

Always feel Mackenzie gets away with a lot more on here compared to Ward

Maybe on the fact Wards been in the system a year longer doesn’t possess the same skill level as Mackenzie.

They’ve both got some flaws in their game though. Mackenzie has had a habit of fading out of games late (not so much this year), Ward has a bit of the Tom Mitchell’s at times where he can sometimes be a panic merchant deep in defence and cough it up easily. Perhaps why it stands out more sometimes.

It’ll be interesting to see how their development pans out over the next few weeks as their midfield minutes go up to levels we’ve not really seen yet. Their stat sheets have been hard to judge because they’ve been stuck in that 60% TOG area for most of their first 3/4 years.

 

[The Kipster]

I always find it interesting the contrast in opinion on here between Mackenzie and Ward
Ward today 23 disposals, 11 contested, DE 70%, 7 tackles, 5 clearances, 1 turnover, 1 goal assist, 7 score involvements, 208 metres gained
Mackenzie today 20 disposals, 10 contested, DE 60%, 9 tackles, 4 clearances, 7 turnovers, 0 goal assists, 4 score involvements, 461 metres gained

Always feel Mackenzie gets away with a lot more on here compared to Ward

I think that Wardy has been instructed to play the defensive mid, Frenchy the opposite. In the 4th qtr, I think that their roles swapped, Frenchy more defensive and Wardy offensive, a great play, it will work tag team in my view.

 

[Hawks1994]

Yeah it wasn't pretty to watch, and yeah it would have been nice to kick straighter and win by a larger margin; but we had full control of the game from start to finish. Pretty much just crusied

We say it all the time, premierships aren't won in April, you bank 4 points and you set your sights on the next game

No real standouts which probably tells us it was an even team performance, plenty of solid contributors; except Meek who absolutely dominated
Happy for HH too, thought he warmed into the game as it went on and had some good moments; releasing handballs from the contest and hit a few nice kicks too

More injuries are the real main take away. We've been a bit unlucky so far this season

 

[ReturningHawk]

I always find it interesting the contrast in opinion on here between Mackenzie and Ward
Ward today 23 disposals, 11 contested, DE 70%, 7 tackles, 5 clearances, 1 turnover, 1 goal assist, 7 score involvements, 208 metres gained
Mackenzie today 20 disposals, 10 contested, DE 60%, 9 tackles, 4 clearances, 7 turnovers, 0 goal assists, 4 score involvements, 461 metres gained

Always feel Mackenzie gets away with a lot more on here compared to Ward

I agree in some ways, Ward doesn get judged harshly, although I think it's clear that Ward is struggling a little bit compared to Mackenzie, who is a year younger yet ahead in the pecking order. To me Ward is reminding me a lot of Worpel 2020-2022, struggling to impact the game positively without the footy in his hands 30+ times.

 

[Atch]

I recon they won't bother replacing scrim with a defender and just say righto sic here's ya chance to play 3rd tall defender, clear gameplan for him to follow, get some familiarity. But I would like them to chuck in Frosty he's the heart and soul of the mighty hawkas!

 

[Sixpence]

Watch the game. The stats don't always tell the complete picture.

Ward's first half was pretty patchy. His last quarter saved his day. Was an outstanding last quarter. Hopefully takes that form into next week.

Mackenzie is always a silky mover and takes the game on. Clearly ahead of Ward and a year younger. Didn't realise he had 7 turnovers. Great tackling and pressure throughout game.

I literally just watched the first half, Ward was no more "patchy" than Mackenzie was. He had one mis-kick in the first, which still ended up in a Hawks shot on goal. Other than that, he looked a lot better than last week.

7 turnovers to 1 is significant.

I think you've just proved hawkman's point here.

 

[grumbleguts]

Gunston averaging the highest shots at goal per game of anyone in the entire league.

 

[onthemoney]

At different times throughout the game players looked sore, wouldn’t be surprised if there’s an unexpected third injury out with Scrimshaw and Amon.

Felt like Meek had been instructed to have more freedom/confidence with disposal around the ground and so he should.

Battle seemed more confident too, and while I haven’t compared stats, seemed to nail a lot more kicks, happy to be back at Marvel?

Not to take anything away from Chol’s ripping game, but I’m still concerned that Gunston turning back the clock is papering over cracks, but thankfully Dear will be back soon. Would love to see Scaife picked against the Tigers though.

 

[Nick the Pig]

Mitchell has been saying all season we are far from the finished product and today was a reflection of that. But at 5-2 and a 50 point win to get us back on track we have to be happy with our progression.

Today's win was hardly the catastrophic performance that the pessimistic on here would have us believe. Patchy and sloppy at times yes, but we were always in control of the match.

Chol and Gunston were superb today.

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

We won - yay.

It says a lot about the ‘disappointing’ win when expectations of the team are higher.

On current form, as a comparison, the Pies would have won by 100+ points tonight. We are nowhere near a ‘form’ team this year but doing just doing enough to keep the Ws column flipping over. Hopefully things click soon, and cohesion improves as the season progresses

Meek was immense again. Shame he missed that 20m set shot

Getting Worpel’s signature is important. He and Jai are pretty much carrying the midfield at present.

There is a group of senior players that would want to start earning their money after their ordinary extended stretch of form

Chol is currently must be close to the best value Key forward in the game playing on an average AFL wage.

Gunston is such a high IQ forward. As is Moore, only he also doubles as a decent midfielder at times.

Our wingman are a concern at present. One is being targeted this season, giving him less time and space to use his weaponry. The other is being given a lot of space but simply doesn’t hurt the opposition.

Not sure why we would want to risk big dollars on Oscar.

 

[Bedi]

He's putting together a sneaky good CAREER is Harry.

What I like about Harry is that he puts his body on the line every time.

He just needs to tighten up his disposal a little which is usually one of his strong points TBH.

EFA

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Moving on to next week, and assuming both Scrimshaw and Amon are out:

Hardwick - Barrass - Impey
Battle - Sicily - Weddle

Meek - Worpel - Mackenzie
Ward - Newcombe - Morrison

Moore - Gunston - MacDonald
Watson - Chol - Ginnivan

Bench:
Hustwaite, Macdonald, D'Ambrosio, Maginess

Sub:
Frost or Serong? They may not be too suited to the role. But they'd allow any of Weddle, Battle, Hardwick or Sicily to be released forward.