Remove this Banner Ad

Preview Round 1: Essendon vs Hawthorne, MCG, Friday 13/03/26, 7:40 PM

  • Thread starter Thread starter eth-dog
  • Start date Start date
  • Tagged users Tagged users None

Winner?


  • Total voters
    38
  • Poll closed .

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Status
Not open for further replies.
Pre-Season:

Essendon: Essendon split their pre-season ganes, with some very promising signs from several kids for the Dons, including the likes of Max Kondogiannis and Hussein El Achkar both in line for senior debuts alongside two of our first round draftees.

Hawthorne: The Hawks also split their pre-season matches, but the big loss against the Western Bulldogs could be of some concern to Sam Mitchell. With no big additions in the off season, the Hawks are going to be hoping that natural improvement from their kids will help.


Head to Head (last 5)

Essendon 4-1 Hawthorne


Form Guide (last 5):

Essendon: 1W 1L
Hawthorne: 1W 1L


Possible sides

Essendon vs Hawthorne

FB: Andrew McGrath - Ben McKay - Jacob Farrow
FF: Nick Watson - Mabior Chol - Jack Gunston
HB: Mason Redman - Zach Reid - Archie Roberts
HF: Dylan Moore - Mitchell Lewis - Jack Ginnivan
MF: Angus Clarke - Jye Caldwell - Brayden Fiorini
MF: Massimo D'Ambrosio - Josh Ward - Josh Weddle
HF: Archie Perkins - Nate Caddy - Matt Guelfi
HB: Karl Amon - Josh Battle - Jarman Impey
FF: Hussein El Achkar - Peter Wright - Kyle Langford
FB: Blake Hardwick - Tom Barrass - James Sicily
OB: Lachlan Blakiston - Darcy Parish - Zach Merrett
OB: Lloyd Meek - Jai Newcombe - Connor MacDonald
IC: Max Kondogiannis - Xavier Duursma - Dyson Sharp - Elijah Tsatas - Jayden Nguyen
IC: Sam Butler - Conor Nash - Henry Hustwaite - Jack Scrimshaw - Harry Morrison


Hawthorne defence vs Essendon forward line

Last season Essendon's forward line was statistically one of the worst in the league, kicking a goal 20.48% of the time they entered 50 and scoring 40.5% of the time they entered 50, 16th and 17th in those stats respectively. Hawthorne on the flipside had one of the stingiest defences in the league, conceding a goal 20.97% of the time it enters their defensive 50, and a score 42.02% of the time, 3rd and 4th in the AFL.

The Bombers will be spearheaded by Peter Wright, the forward/ruck having kicked 28 goals last year, averaging 2 goals a game against the Hawkes over his career, whilst young gun Nate Caddy will likely have to deal with Josh Battle as he tries to assert himself in the competition in his 3rd year at the level, with young Hussein El Achkar likely to make his senior debut against Blake Hardwick for the Tigers.


Midfield/rucks battle

The Bombers were 13th and 11th in terms of contested possession and clearance difference in 2025, with the Hawkes were 8th and 16th in those areas respectively, highlighting the Hawks pursuit into improving their midfield for this season.

Essendon's midfield mix will be lead by Jye Caldwell with a potential Sam Durham suspension, and will be supported by Zach Merrett and Darcy Parish primarily, the trio all possessing very strong offensive capabilities, alongside first round draftee Dyson Sharp in there, whilst the Hawks main man will be Jai Newcombe, the star midfielder, with the likes of Conor Nash and Josh Ward helping them inside, with the Hawks having a distinct size advantage compared to the Dons on the inside. On the outside, Josh Weddle and Massimo D'Ambrosio have been classy players for the Hawks the past few years whereas Essendon will be hoping the addition of Brayden Fiorini and young gun Angus Clarke can match the Hawks pair. Rucks wise, the new rules favour Blakiston over Meek at the centre, however around the ground Meek's physicality will give him an advantage.


Hawthorne forward line vs Essendon defence

In 2025 the Hawkes averaged a goal 24.96% of the time they entered forward 50, and a score 45.34% of the time, ranking them 6th and 5th in those areas respectively. Essendon conceded a goal 25.82% of the time it enters their defensive 50 and a score 46.93% of the time in there, ranking 15th and 13th in those areas last year.

Hawthorne will launch a three pronged attack between Mitchell Lewis, Mabior Chol and Jack Gunston, with the trio likely to receive attention from Ben McKay, Zach Reid and Max Kondogiannis on debut, the Hawks would be looking at those match ups favourably whilst their small forward trio of Nick Watson, Jack Ginnivan and Dylan Moore will be tough match ups for Bomber captain Andrew McGrath, as well as Jayden Nguyen and Mason Redman back there


Key stat

Essendon: Clearances. Essendon are a good clearance side when fully fit so they need to get on top in this regard to win this game.

Hawthorne: F50 efficiency. The Hawks have an excellent forward line and need to capitilise on a relatively average Essendon defence

Tip

Hawks quite comfortably unfortunately
 
Delete if a thread already

And im sure others will do their spill

Im starting to think Max Kondo debuts round 1. Personally id roll the dice with Nik Cox

I didnt have either in my recent best 23 but forgot we have hawks who will pick all of Lewis, Dear, Gunston and Chol

Now i suspect only 4 of their 5 will be on field at any one time when including Meek

But can we trust Redman to be able to take Gunston very deep, can we trust him to take the higher of Chol or Gunston? Im not so sure, im not sure Kondo can play on Chol either but he atleast has more size

If Cox can give me 16 days of straight training then i think i ask for a huge effort from him round 1 and chuck him in the deep end asking for him to stand up for this club

I think hes done enough training? even though hes missed a bit of training the past 2-3 weeks

Cox can probably play on both Lewis and Chol whoever is the highest
 
Not sure Kondo plays round 1 against the Hawks - he's probably similar to a a few other players who may or may not be picked depending on what they do in the game against the Saints + injury/form on the training track over the next 2 weeks. Guys like Kondo/SEH/ADW/Cox/Johnson/Tsatas/May/Guelfi/Perkins/Kako* all in the same boat. I know Prior has been playing wing pre-season but I think you'll find he's moved into a more defensive role now Ridley has gone down (again). Right now I see our round 1 team like this;-

Prior McKay McGrath
Redman Reid Roberts
Clarke Caldwell Fiorini
Duursma Caddy Kako*
2MP Langford HAS

Blaki Durham Merrett

Bench: Parish Sharp Farrow Nguyen Gresham
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

Its bleak but we drafted him for this

Start talking to him now saying we cant rely on a raw 18 yr old kid, your up, we need a big job from you, we think this could kick start your career, this is the position we drafted you in. We just want you to give us everything youve got, the back 6 are up against in, Mcgrath, Redman, Ben, zach they and us are worried about the hawks tall fwds
 
Its bleak but we drafted him for this

Start talking to him now saying we cant rely on a raw 18 yr old kid, your up, we need a big job from you, we think this could kick start your career, this is the position we drafted you in. We just want you to give us everything youve got, the back 6 are up against in, Mcgrath, Redman, Ben, zach they and us are worried about the hawks tall fwds
No no.

Don't double down.

This was a bad idea.

Stop this.
 
Well Cox is going to play some time in Sundays VFL game so he is getting close to playing a full game. Doubt he will be AFL ready for round 1.

My guess is Prior will play wing to start with given he has trained there all summer along with Fiorini.
 
McGrath McKay Nguyen
Redman Reid Roberts
Duursma Durham Fiorini
Kako Caddy Guelfi
Langford Wright El-Achker
Blakistan Parish Caldwell

Merrett Sharp Kondo Farrow Johnson

Sure I have missed somebody important but I would be happy with this.
 
Its bleak but we drafted him for this

Start talking to him now saying we cant rely on a raw 18 yr old kid, your up, we need a big job from you, we think this could kick start your career, this is the position we drafted you in. We just want you to give us everything youve got, the back 6 are up against in, Mcgrath, Redman, Ben, zach they and us are worried about the hawks tall fwds
I’m ready to run through brick walls
 
No no.

Don't double down.

This was a bad idea.

Stop this.
Whats the other alternative, Kondo on Gunston? Prior/Redman on Chol/Lewis after training entirely wing PS?

Because thats what your choosing here
Nah send Cox out there with a couple of weeks of preseason under his belt and no matches in over a year. DESTROY HIM.
Hasnt he done 70% of PS ?
 
McGrath McKay Nguyen
Redman Reid Roberts
Duursma Durham Fiorini
Kako Caddy Guelfi
Langford Wright El-Achker
Blakistan Parish Caldwell

Merrett Sharp Kondo Farrow Johnson

Sure I have missed somebody important but I would be happy with this.
Roberts would have to be onball with this setup
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Whats the other alternative, Kondo on Gunston? Prior/Redman on Chol/Lewis after training entirely wing PS?

Because thats what your choosing here

Hasnt he done 70% of PS ?
Is only a couple of weeks back in from a 3 week calf issue. Maybe 60% in the VFL this week.
 
Whats the other alternative, Kondo on Gunston? Prior/Redman on Chol/Lewis after training entirely wing PS?

Because thats what your choosing here

Hasnt he done 70% of PS ?

If He Dies Ivan Drago GIF
 

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

i think we should put nic cox into the game after not playing for well over a year and having significant concussion issues and problems. if you disagree with me you are WRONG and probably an enemy of the state.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Remove this Banner Ad

Remove this Banner Ad

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top Bottom