Preview Round 14, 2025: Hawthorn v Adelaide Crows, 13 June 2025, 7.40pm @ UTAS Stadium

[madhawksfan]

Crows will be a massive test. They will be full of confidence after knocking off the Lions, who beat us comfortably. I’m sure the SA media will be pumping them up.

Tassie is an advantage and perhaps an extra day to recover will help us, particularly as they played in the wet.

We have good matchups for most of their key players in Impey (Rankine), Dimma (Rachele) and Nash (Dawson). Not sure who we send to Laird as he often gets a lot of the ball. Maybe Butler can do a run with. It would be a good learning experience for him.

Their forward line is quality so our pressure up the ground will need to be at the level it was on Thursday. Their tall forwards aren’t great at applying pressure, particular Tex so that could be an area we expose them.

Our forward line should trouble them if we get enough decent entries.

Changes for mine mirror what a lot of others have said:

Watto for Finn
Scrim/Frost/Serong for CJ

Ramsden stays for structural reasons. It’s no coincidence that Moore looked more like his old self and our forward line had more space with a down the line option other than Meek.

All the other top sides have genuine role players (C graders) and we looked better balanced on Thursday. Names on paper doesn’t always equate to a cohesive side.

Dimma Barrass Scrim/Frost/Serong
Weddle Battle Amon
Morrison Newk Mass
Moore Gunston CMac
Ginni Chol Watson
Meek Nash Ward
Worpel Impey Butler Ramsden
Mitchell

 

[Blackhawk42]

Real shame this isn't at the MCG. It's a potential blockbuster being let down by its location.

 

[HawthornHawk]

Real shame this isn't at the MCG. It's a potential blockbuster being let down by its location.

Our next home game at the G is in round 20, seems crazy

 

[Hawkk]

Real shame this isn't at the MCG. It's a potential blockbuster being let down by its location.

Ordinarily I’d agree — that said, I wouldn’t back us in against the Crows at the MCG at the moment.

 

[HoldingThe Ball]

Straight forward changes surely?

Watson in for Finn. We need extra pace forward

Scrimshaw or Serong for CJ. Need an extra tall who can defend the high ball against their 3 pronged tall set-up.

Serong deserves a shot again tbh.

We all expected the worst last season against their imposing forward line - and for 10 minutes it looked the case.

Then we strangled their mids and absolutely dominated the rest of the game in possibly one of the top 3 performances of last season.

Adelaide 8.10 58
Hawthorn 19.10 128

We slaughtered them in Rd 20 ( we beat them in Rd 12 as well 16.11 107 to 12.8 80) - note the huge disparity in the scoring shots in both games!

I think it was C-Macs best game of last year as well in the Rd 20 win.

They have improved as a side have the Crows - but with the right mindset, and at a ground we play very well on, we can win this, and win this well.

Hawks by 34 pts

 

[westhawk]

Rachele is white hot. Dimma has to take him.
Who takes Rankine? Shammy?

Rachele is also one of the biggest front runners in the comp, if you are prepared to stick to him like defenders should and be physical, he will crumble. Dimma is perfect for him. Rachele will crap himself just seeing Dimma line up on him. Ranking is a concern, but like Rachele, doesn’t like any physical contact. Play unsociable on both of them.

 

[Malik90]

Does Nash go to Dawson?

 

[hawk for 37]

The AFL’s sneaky we’ll show em they need a roof fixture.
1st ever Friday night game in 25 years in Launceston. in the middle of winter.
They will be hoping for a freezing cold night.

 

[TylerDurden]

If Scrim is fit he is 100% in cause he’ll almost certainly go to Fogarty/Walker splitting with Battle. weddle is the matchup on Dawson if he goes FWD. Wizard in for Finn too. Kinda sucks to say but reakn Mitchell goes out for Scrim. Only cause last night once CJ came on we pushed Impey FWD as our back 7 became Barrass, Battle, Weddle, Dimma, Mitchell, Amon and CJ. If Scrim were to come in I’d imagine it’s Mitchell or CJ out, the one who stays will become sub. I think Mitchell is the better best 22 to CJ but CJ is the better sub so hard to tell.

No chance Mitchell is dropped.
Had 6 tackles and will be needed to quel Rankine, with Dimma on Rachele.
Their smalls are more damaging than their talls. Then you have Keays.

 

[TylerDurden]

Rachele is also one of the biggest front runners in the comp, if you are prepared to stick to him like defenders should and be physical, he will crumble. Dimma is perfect for him. Rachele will crap himself just seeing Dimma line up on him. Ranking is a concern, but like Rachele, doesn’t like any physical contact. Play unsociable on both of them.

He's the in form small in the comp. No team has been able to quel him the last month. I wouldn't be disrespecting him.

 

[HedgeFund]

They will push Tex deep if he gets that matchup and will back him to use his forward craft to trouble Weddle. Personally he's a better matchup for Fogarty and Battle gets Tex.

Then we simply “hand over”, so Barrass plays deepest, Weddle highest and Battle on whomever is in between.

Adelaide can’t dictate which of our key defenders plays deepest.

 

[Walshawk]

Our next home game at the G is in round 20, seems crazy

It is crazy. Let’s hope the Devils stadium gets up so we can bring these games home.

 

[HedgeFund]

He's the in form small in the comp. No team has been able to quel him the last month. I wouldn't be disrespecting him.

Agreed. The 2025 version of Rachele is a vast improvement on the 2024 model.

Nicks gave him a stern message late last year and he has responded. He and Rankine have to be minded to an extent.

 

[Yardie]

If Dear has a great game today would we think he could replace Gunston rather than Ramsden?

Give Gunners a rest and with a look forward to structuring for Lewis when he returns.

 

[RoughysMullet]

If Dear has a great game today would we think he could replace Gunston rather than Ramsden?

Give Gunners a rest and with a look forward to structuring for Lewis when he returns.

Not sure - seem to think Dear now needs a couple of big games at Box Hill to show he’s ready - might be a struggle for him today being damp and windy

 

[westhawk]

He's the in form small in the comp. No team has been able to quel him the last month. I wouldn't be disrespecting him.

No disrespect, he’s a talent, but he hates it physical, and that’s what we should give him.

 

[PorkPieHat]

Wiz for probably Finn. I liked the presence of Ramsden on Thursday. Also like CJ as sub - this’ll sound vapid but he’s so visibly ‘bouncy’ and such a dasher, he’s a good team adrenaline hit.

 

[TylerDurden]

Scaife beating down the door as we speak.

 

[cryptor]

Scaife beating down the door as we speak.

Quite a few continuing to put their hand up for selection today.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Scaife beating down the door as we speak.

Dear with a goal too

 

[tommyk72]

Dear with a goal too

Yes, but hasn't had much of an influence outside of that.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Yes, but hasn't had much of an influence outside of that.

Still, with a player like dear I’m not expecting huge things, if he’s 90% I’d have him in for his pressure and contest.

Sometimes you need to not let perfection be the the enemy of good enough.

 

[H00t]

Yes, but hasn't had much of an influence outside of that.

Neither has Scaife. Both have 3 disposals each.

 

[kazzooka]

Dear looks to still be building fitness. He's not getting to the contests and putting the pressure on, and is blowing hard after each effort.

Missed a huge amount of training and is only a 2nd year player so doesn't have the fitness base forgive that much time off.

 

[Come back Cyril]

Dear looks to still be building fitness. He's not getting to the contests and putting the pressure on, and is blowing hard after each effort.

Missed a huge amount of training and is only a 2nd year player so doesn't have the fitness base forgive that much time off.

Thanks, was wondering about this - he struggled last year with this and was regularly subbed off as he couldn't run out games so I thought it might take a while to regain his fitness from a low base.