Game Day Hawks head to the Handbagger Hub - Unofficial Match Simulation - Monday 17th February 2025 @ 2pm AEDT

[TheFourPillars]

Is Ginni playing injured?

Naah just out there for the run. Coming back from injury similar to moore, croc and sic

 

[cryptor]

Slightly off topic.. But.. Bailey Smith looked very good!

Played well but that oversized bandana was taking the piss.

 

[offtherails9]

Is Ginni playing injured?

Well it's an adductor overuse injury, from what I know of those injuries they would be testing the strength through his adductors to make sure there isn't the weakness that you get. I think they'd be managing his minutes and KMs and are trying to build him up slowly without overloading his body.

 

[peetoo]

Slightly off topic.. But.. Bailey Smith looked very good!

For a few minutes at a time. I guessed they used him sparingly

Geelong transition game means they must be supremely fit to pull it off. I don’t reckon he’s at their standard

Unless they just use he and danger for impact

 

[hardway]

Day was best player on the park by the length of the Flemington straight.

 

[peetoo]

Day was best player on the park by the length of the Flemington straight.

Mentioned by all media after they had fapped over Bailey smiths couple of posessions

 

[RoughysMullet]

As others have said - a 2nd tall forward to support Chol is needed- especially against a side like Geelong that forces you to kick long and intercepts the high ball…

Would love to see Ramsden get more game time next praccy- an absolute must that he brings the ball to ground and plays in front…
I also think he’s the kind of player that will benefit from some time in the ruck when Meek is resting to keep him involved…

 

[Mississippi]

Today was a really good hit out for the boys against quality opposition. Reckon there was a crowd of about 3k there to watch the proceedings. We started slowly but really worked into our gears before resting players and experimenting with different set ups, which is what a match practice is for.

• Really liked the way Blake Hardwick threw his body around up forward today - had some really good moments and helped set up scoring opportunities.
• Day was absolutely scintillating - with a full preseason under his belt for the first time in his career, he looks ready to dominate.
• Mackenzie just oozes class - makes the difficult look easy and will only get better.
• Newcombe and Worpel were both excellent in the middle and look primed for a big 2025.
• Chol attacked the contests and scored his two goals - wasn’t easy with him with the lack of tall support in the first half, especially when Geelong played a spare back.
• Battle complements the backline so well - reads the play and knows where to be, while his kicking off both feet is terrific.
• Harry Morrison worked well on his wing and was often playing on Jeremy Cameron - H looked assured with the ball in hand and kicked a goal.
• Gunners picking the ball off the ground at full speed showed that his back is cherry ripe and his directing of the forward line was definitely beneficial.
• Loved seeing Frosty back out there - he attacked every contest with purpose and determination and was safe with the ball in hand. During the first quarter he was having a chat with Weddle about positioning and you can see how valuable he is to the team.
• Nash’s kicking inside 50 was to dangerous areas and he tried to give the forwards the best opportunity to mark or create a contest.

Will be fascinating to see who we roll out next week against the Bulldogs. UTAS will suit the game plan better and we will get a real good look at the coaching groups thinking for round one.
So many positives to come out of the game, especially when you consider our last few trips to the Cattery have been thumpings. All looks to be on the right track for us this year.

Mackenzie just oozes class

Truer words never spoken.

 

[cryptor]

Is Ginni playing injured?

I did think he didn’t look to be moving as if he was pain free at a few points yesterday. Wouldn’t make sense to play an injured player though.

Spotted on his IG story this morning that he had a bandaid on his heel. So perhaps he was just getting a blister from breaking in some new boots.

 

[bigmaxi]

Today was a really good hit out for the boys against quality opposition. Reckon there was a crowd of about 3k there to watch the proceedings. We started slowly but really worked into our gears before resting players and experimenting with different set ups, which is what a match practice is for.

• Really liked the way Blake Hardwick threw his body around up forward today - had some really good moments and helped set up scoring opportunities.
• Day was absolutely scintillating - with a full preseason under his belt for the first time in his career, he looks ready to dominate.
• Mackenzie just oozes class - makes the difficult look easy and will only get better.
• Newcombe and Worpel were both excellent in the middle and look primed for a big 2025.
• Chol attacked the contests and scored his two goals - wasn’t easy with him with the lack of tall support in the first half, especially when Geelong played a spare back.
• Battle complements the backline so well - reads the play and knows where to be, while his kicking off both feet is terrific.
• Harry Morrison worked well on his wing and was often playing on Jeremy Cameron - H looked assured with the ball in hand and kicked a goal.
• Gunners picking the ball off the ground at full speed showed that his back is cherry ripe and his directing of the forward line was definitely beneficial.
• Loved seeing Frosty back out there - he attacked every contest with purpose and determination and was safe with the ball in hand. During the first quarter he was having a chat with Weddle about positioning and you can see how valuable he is to the team.
• Nash’s kicking inside 50 was to dangerous areas and he tried to give the forwards the best opportunity to mark or create a contest.

Will be fascinating to see who we roll out next week against the Bulldogs. UTAS will suit the game plan better and we will get a real good look at the coaching groups thinking for round one.
So many positives to come out of the game, especially when you consider our last few trips to the Cattery have been thumpings. All looks to be on the right track for us this year.

Thanks as always Newmo. Dimma up forward is the one that really excites me. Its another dimension to our forward line, one that is hard as nails and will keep the oppo defenders on their toes. Pound for pound the guy is a match for any of them and if we can keep him forward will improve his connection with the rest of the forwards. A few bone crunching contested marks and they will be feeling his presence, Lethal like

 

[thehardway]

Thanks as always Newmo. Dimma up forward is the one that really excites me. Its another dimension to our forward line, one that is hard as nails and will keep the oppo defenders on their toes. Pound for pound the guy is a match for any of them and if we can keep him forward will improve his connection with the rest of the forwards. A few bone crunching contested marks and they will be feeling his presence, Lethal like

A rare player in that he's accomplished both forward and back. He would have been handy down back yesterday and it will be interesting how the coaching staff use him this year.

 

[Sirlemsip]

A rare player in that he's accomplished both forward and back. He would have been handy down back yesterday and it will be interesting how the coaching staff use him this year.

Barrass, Impey and Amon all to come back in.

We don't need him down back anymore.

 

[thehardway]

Barrass, Impey and Amon all to come back in.

We don't need him down back anymore.

I still think there will be games where he plays back. He's a different player to the three you mention. He matches up well on players like Elliot, DeGoey, Dangerfield. Frost is probably more of a like for like. But yeah, combined with his toughness and selfless play, if we can keep him forward he could rack up 30-40 goals

 

[Sirlemsip]

I still think there will be games where he plays back. He's a different player to the three you mention. He matches up well on players like Elliot, DeGoey, Dangerfield. Frost is probably more of a like for like. But yeah, combined with his toughness and selfless play, if we can keep him forward he could rack up 30-40 goals

The fact that we can swing Hardwick, Weddle, Sic and Battle through both arcs is massive.
We have a plethora of options if we need to change things up mid-game.

 

[Baz_hawk]

Caught the replay and have a few thoughts...

• Mraz looked really good in the very little game time he had. Couple of strong marks, kicking looks a bit awkward but seemed to work for him. Exciting prospect from an early glimpse
• Frenchie is a spitting image of Mitchell when manoeuvring through traffic, just classy and has all the time in the world. Hoping to see a breakout year from him
• Chol attacked the contests hard which I loved. Probably want him clunking some of the marks as he does the hard work of getting into position but it's a big plus to have someone who will bring the ball to ground more often than not.
• Battle impressed in his first outing, foot skills are excellent and seemed to read the play well
• Day is primed for a big year. Just glides along and works hard to make things happen
• As I commented in another thread, our tall forwards depth is our biggest concern. I'm not alarmed from one practice match but it was something that I felt was our weakest area. Chol attacks the packs and competes well but with Lewis and Dear sidelined our next options are unproven at AFL level. I suspect we'll try and get that mix right in sections of our preseason match so we'll have a better read on how that looks. We do have a number of swingman types as others have pointed out, but many of those are third tall types rather than key position

Good hit out overall, looking forward to seeing how we attack the dogs in the next match, I think we'll probably try and field a stronger side in parts to test out some structures and audition a few for round 0 roles which will be good to watch.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Not much just stengle

Stengle Mannagh and Guthrie the main ones. Stengle helps them the others just blend in. Ours were much more significant and impacted how we would normally play.

 

[Dewnior]

Chol's role up forward is to bring the ball to ground for the smalls. I thought he did an excellent job of that until he attempted a hanger and landed awkwardly which took the wind out of his sails.

What I gleaned from the game was the amount of flexibility Sam will have with the magnets this season.

Finn can play HHF and small or medium forward at a pinch and can do a good job at it if required. And Frenchie / Ward now allow either Day or Newc to rest forward.

The combination of Battle, Barrass and Scrim allow Sicily and Weddle to roam wherever the f$@k they want.

I love the versatility that Sam and the coaches are creating. Can't wait for R0.

 

[Fulgent]

Played well but that oversized bandana was taking the piss.

Hahaha, I need my eyes tested. I initially read that as oversized banana, and wondered what you'd seen that I hadn't!

 

[Fulgent]

I did think he didn’t look to be moving as if he was pain free at a few points yesterday. Wouldn’t make sense to play an injured player though.

Spotted on his IG story this morning that he had a bandaid on his heel. So perhaps he was just getting a blister from breaking in some new boots.

He can't have been too bad, as he was running around the boundary late in the last quarter.

 

[Mississippi]

I know it’s only a practice game in Feb - and these 2 boys only got a glimpse in the last quarter - but I reckon McCabe could have jumped ahead of Ramsden and Scaife as a fill-in tall forward. He showed his class. I didn’t realise he was such a smooth mover.

And my first look at Noah Mraz. Bloody impressive. I can see why the track watchers have been quietly raving about him.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

I know it’s only a practice game in Feb - and these 2 boys only got a glimpse in the last quarter - but I reckon McCabe could have jumped ahead of Ramsden and Scaife as a fill-in tall forward. He showed his class. I didn’t realise he was such a smooth mover.

And my first look at Noah Mraz. Bloody impressive. I can see why the track watchers have been quietly raving about him.

Both were impressive.

We know McCabe has a great athletic profile, and is very skilled for a big man. But we haven't had a chance to watch him play, never mind play as a forward.

 

[Roger Rogerson]

As others have said - a 2nd tall forward to support Chol is needed- especially against a side like Geelong that forces you to kick long and intercepts the high ball…

Would love to see Ramsden get more game time next praccy- an absolute must that he brings the ball to ground and plays in front…
I also think he’s the kind of player that will benefit from some time in the ruck when Meek is resting to keep him involved…

I’m not sure he draws the ball well enough as a fwd.

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

I keep reading the training reports about how Ramsden has got bigger, better etc and hope like hell he moves beyond the ordinary I have seen from him previously.

And then I watch him in action, and again I walk away thinking what am I missing that others keep going on about.

I hope I am wrong, but I just can’t see him making it at AFL level, neither as a full time ruck or a key forward.

Sounds negative, but I just don’t see it. He can run and has an engine, but is that enough?

If he can’t stake a claim now when Lewis and Dear are out and Gunston is on his last legs, I don’t know that he ever will.

 

[LindaCresLove]

Did Ginni play?

There was a foto in the Sun today of him getting a forearm across his throat, caption remarked: "no free kick".
He was there, he will get his chance to shine, it was a practice match at Handbag Park, for goodness sake!

 

[LindaCresLove]

Slightly off topic.. But.. Bailey Smith looked very good!

That's only because he lives in Torquay now.