Preview Round 3, 2024: Hawthorn v Geelong, 1st April 3:20pm MCG

[Hodginator]

Take Finn out this week. Bring him back for Daicos next week and trigger the pies fans again.

 

[H00t]

I posted at the start of the season that I thought Reeves was a watch as to me there is very little difference between Reeves and Meek and if Reeves doesn't improve his around the ground game and Meek is tearing it up in the VFL it will be interesting to see what happens.

I copped a lot of flak from some quarters who said that Reeves was our obvious number 1 ruck for 2024.

I have seen little in the first two rounds to suggest I was wrong though, Reeves is still a liability outside of ruck contests.

I think Reeves is on pretty thin ice, he will most likely get picked this week but he needs to start to have at least some impact around the ground (taking a couple of strong marks would help a lot).

Meek’s problem is that while he dominates at VFL level because he’s bigger and stronger than the VFL rucks he gets found out at AFL level as the other rucks are much more mobile than him while he isn’t tall enough to compete against the top tap ruckman.

 

[Hawkspot]

I thought Meek's papers were stamped after that diabolical performance against St Kilda. Marshall absolutely destroyed him.

The problem with Meek v Reeves is Meek is slightly better than Reeves at everything but Reeves is significantly better at actual ruck work.

Surprise surprise it appears ruck work seems to be a pretty important job for a ruckman based on Sam and co.

I hope Meek gets his chance because I love seeing the fridge with legs play but he needs to take his chance when he gets it. The reason why Reeves is continually playing is he's currently our best ruck option.

Are you talking about the first or second saints game? He played as a forward the first time, then smashed Marshall in the ruck the second time.

Marshall certainly got him on the outside, but he’d have done more damage against Reeves who has no tank.

 

[SSSSSS]

Are you talking about the first or second saints game? He played as a forward the first time, then smashed Marshall in the ruck the second time.

Marshall certainly got him on the outside, but he’d have done more damage against Reeves who has no tank.

Second Saints game when they had 9 centre clearances in the first quarter or something ridiculous. He played Solo ruck. Think Reeves was injured or suspended?

I remember Mitchell giving the mids an absolute bollocking at quarter time. Never seen him that pissed off before.

Meek was unceremoniously dropped the following week and Reeves straight back in.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Meek’s problem is that while he dominates at VFL level because he’s bigger and stronger than the VFL rucks he gets found out at AFL level as the other rucks are much more mobile than him while he isn’t tall enough to compete against the top tap ruckman.

He's 203cm tall, that doesn't seem that undersized.

I think his main issue is a lack of mongrel at times.

 

[Hawk88]

Second Saints game when they had 9 centre clearances in the first quarter or something ridiculous. He played Solo ruck. Think Reeves was injured or suspended?

I remember Mitchell giving the mids an absolute bollocking at quarter time. Never seen him that pissed off before.

Meek was unceremoniously dropped the following week and Reeves straight back in.

I'm not referencing this game specifically but Mitchell certainly has his favourites more so then clarko ever did

I.e Nash, finn, Reeves etc

Seems to never get criticism for it either

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[SSSSSS]

I'm not referencing this game specifically but Mitchell certainly has his favourites more so then clarko ever did

I.e Nash, finn, Reeves etc

Seems to never get criticism for it either

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Every coach has their favourites.

I don't mind Sam's favourites because they at least have the capacity to be unique pieces of the puzzle that cause problems for the opposition (whether they do or not is another story) as opposed to someone like Dan Howe who is just always going to be a shittruck footsoldier.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I'm not referencing this game specifically but Mitchell certainly has his favourites more so then clarko ever did

I.e Nash, finn, Reeves etc

Seems to never get criticism for it either

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This favourites stuff is absolute rubbish.

Coaches pick players based on the things they bring to the side.

All three players mentioned bring things to the side that Sam wants in his team. Reeves had us as the 4th best side in the comp for hitouts in 2023, a clear reason our midfield shone.
Nash similarly, was heavily involved in our stoppage footy last year and helped to clear paths for others.
Finn, it goes without saying.

He doesn't select them because he thinks they are great people to have in the change rooms.

 

[Hawk88]

Every coach has their favourites.

I don't mind Sam's favourites because they at least have the capacity to be unique pieces of the puzzle that cause problems for the opposition (whether they do or not is another story) as opposed to someone like Dan Howe who is just always going to be a shittruck footsoldier.

Actually lol'd

You are right and I forgot about Dan Howe

Thanks God those days are over

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[Hawk88]

This favourites stuff is absolute rubbish.

Coaches pick players based on the things they bring to the side.

All three players mentioned bring things to the side that Sam wants in his team. Reeves had us as the 4th best side in the comp for hitouts in 2023, a clear reason our midfield shone.
Nash similarly, was heavily involved in our stoppage footy last year and helped to clear paths for others.
Finn, it goes without saying.

He doesn't select them because he thinks they are great people to have in the change rooms.

Our most in form mid (Hustwaite) wasnt even selected after the preseason he had

But yeah he doesn't have favourites!

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[SSSSSS]

Actually lol'd

You are right and I forgot about Dan Howe

Thanks God those days are over

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I wish we got old crazy eyes to 100 games. What's the bet he's going to have a generation F&S just to * us all one more time.

Never seen a player leave a club as a whipping boy and become a whipping boy at his next club so quickly.

Lovely bloke though.

 

[hawkman]

I'm not referencing this game specifically but Mitchell certainly has his favourites more so then clarko ever did

I.e Nash, finn, Reeves etc

Seems to never get criticism for it either

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Finn played 13 games last year. It is not like he gets a game every week

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Our most in form mid (Hustwaite) wasnt even selected after the preseason he had

But yeah he doesn't have favourites!

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Can only imagine the melts on this board should we have decided to roll into Round 1 with Hustwaite in the side instead of one of Nash, Worpel or Newk.

 

[Hawk88]

Can only imagine the melts on this board should we have decided to roll into Round 1 with Hustwaite in the side instead of one of Nash, Worpel or Newk.

More referencing finn as the sub here... Clearly

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[SSSSSS]

Can only imagine the melts on this board should we have decided to roll into Round 1 with Hustwaite in the side instead of one of Nash, Worpel or Newk.

It was always going to be one of Frenchy or Hust to take the spot vacated by Day.

I thought personally HH had the better preseason of the 2 as a whole but Frenchy pipped him in the last praccy match.

 

[VandoHawk]

Our most in form mid (Hustwaite) wasnt even selected after the preseason he had

But yeah he doesn't have favourites!

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Hustwaite wasn't our most in form mid. He showed great signs in bursts but was unable to impact in secondary positions. Mackenzie was much better at impacting away from the midfield in the preseason games and was given the nod.

Newcombe blitzed the preseason which is why is lack of form now is weird and Worpel/Nash were locks based on last season. Maginness also has a specialised role.

I'd love for Hust to be in the side but let's not attribute his lack of initial selection to selecting favourites.

 

[hawkman]

Our most in form mid (Hustwaite) wasnt even selected after the preseason he had

But yeah he doesn't have favourites!

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Mackenzie outperformed him in the 2nd Bulldogs preseason game and got the spot. He wasn't getting a game ahead of Newk, Nash and Worpel who had come off 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the B&F.

 

[HedgeFund]

Take Finn out this week. Bring him back for Daicos next week and trigger the pies fans again.

Finn playing at BH makes sense based on his first two games, which weren’t flash.

As for bringing him back in for the Pies - it might be worth playing Blake Hardwick on ND as a small forward who runs with him, but could actually do some damage offensively.

 

[hawkman]

Was Finn even that bad last week? I know the ball use wasn't great but the time he was on Oliver he didn't have that much influence

 

[TheFourPillars]

It was always going to be one of Frenchy or Hust to take the spot vacated by Day.

I thought personally HH had the better preseason of the 2 as a whole but Frenchy pipped him in the last praccy match.

Yep it was frenchie vs huss all pre season long. They even did drills and match sim opposed to one another in pre season. They only thing that stops huss from being a regular is the amount of ball he gets. Frenchie just shaded him. However pre season is now over. Selection will be on performance VFL or AFL

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

More referencing finn as the sub here... Clearly

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A 2 game inside mid as Sub in Round 1 doesn't make much more sense than having Finn as sub.

 

[Mojo]

Every coach has their favourites.

I don't mind Sam's favourites because they at least have the capacity to be unique pieces of the puzzle that cause problems for the opposition (whether they do or not is another story) as opposed to someone like Dan Howe who is just always going to be a shittruck footsoldier.

Who are 'Sam's favourites'?

It just seems this narrative begins and ends on Big Footy.

 

[Hawk88]

A 2 game inside mid as Sub in Round 1 doesn't make much more sense than having Finn as sub.

Yeah but having a player who can only hard tag coming on late is even a better idea....

It's not like we trying to invest into the future or anything

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[Strapping Young Lad]

Yeah but having a player who can only hard tag coming on late is even a better idea....

It's not like we trying to invest into the future or anything

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Finn wasn't brought on to hard tag, as Sam clearly wanted to give Finn the opportunity to provide some run(which he did) and make a go of another role in the side. It didn't really impact at all, which happens.

Doesn't make Finn a favourite.

 

[The hands of stone]

Was Finn even that bad last week? I know the ball use wasn't great but the time he was on Oliver he didn't have that much influence

His poor ball use is magnified 10 fold because the midfield is down.

HH if he can replicate VFL and training form to AFL offers clean skills and ball use .
If he can get 20 decent touches it will help the other mids and the team.