Due to the dodgy on-the-mark infringement!
Please win by less than 6; I just want to watch the world burn.
Hawks by 15
Booooooooooo.
Iâm going with âthe umpires used their dodgy rule/interpretation to hand Hawthorn the momentum to get in front and winâ, though.
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Hawthorn wins are never nice but itâs still good to see smug Doggie fans put back in their box.
pretty cool they are broadcasting the Vfl game too
Dunkley looked poor to be honest. Very slow.
Blitz would be crashing by now if we gave up two firsts and he played like that.
Will get better as the season goes along, but I canât see him cracking the starting midfield once Macrae and Treloar come back into the side.
I guess thatâs good for us because weâll get him cheaper if he requests for a trade, but certainly a missed opportunity for the Dogs to cash in.
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This is what Iâve been saying. The dogs will let Dunkley wither in the twoâs because they have other options. By the time we get a real shot at picking him up, heâll take time to even get back to close to where he was before asking for the trade. Heâs no longer worth pursuing unless the dogs have to play him and at the same time get desperate to get rid of him. Neither of which will happen.
Hawks fire up forward, youngsters impress, Dogsâ R1 bolter
Hawthorn overran the Western Bulldogs, but there was plenty to like for both sides
Dylan Moore dishes off a handball during the Hawksâ practice match against the Dogs in February, 2021. Picture: AFL Photos
HAWTHORN was missing star forwards Jack Gunston and Chad Wingard, but the Hawks found the firepower to notch a comeback win over the Western Bulldogs in Wednesdayâs practice game.
The Hawks trailed at every change in the first official hit-out of the pre-season, but struck back in the final term to run over the top of the Bulldogs by 15 points.
The 15.7 (97) to 12.10 (82) win should be a fillip for the Hawks as they aim to rise from last yearâs 15th position on the ladder, overcoming the more experienced premiership fancy at Whitten Oval.
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After being outscored four goals to one in the first term, Hawthornâs group of forwards turned the tables to offer plenty of options for coach Alastair Clarkson heading into round one. Tim OâBrien , Luke Breust and Ollie Hanrahan all booted three goals, while Mitch Lewis was also impressive with two majors.
The Bulldogs would have been buoyed by the pairing of recruit Stef Martin and fellow ruckman Tim English (pictured). The athletic former Lion, who cost the Dogs little in last yearâs Trade Period, showed his wares around the ground and also allowed English to drift forward, where he was a threat in the air and kicked two goals.
After his failed bid to be traded to Essendon last year for more midfield time, Josh Dunkley played predominantly in a midfield role and had an excellent first half, rotating through the Dogsâ on-ball group with Marcus Bontempelli , Bailey Smith , Tom Liberatore and Patrick Lipinski . Gun recruit Adam Treloar didnât play as he recovers from his calf injury.
Caleb Daniel followed on from his All-Australian selection last year to dominate in the back half, while Josh Bruce , who had an inconsistent start to his career at the Dogs last season, kicked two goals including one from a strong contested mark.
AAMI COMMUNITY SERIES Check out the pre-season fixture
After much discussion about the new man on the mark rule introduced for this season, there was only one slip-ups from the players, with a 50-metre penalty given against Bontempelli when he moved on the mark as Hawk James Cousins went to kick.
The instance five minutes into the last quarter was the only case of the new rule in the match, with players adjusting well.
Marcus Bontempelli did plenty of nice things against the Hawks. Picture: AFL Photos
New faces
Martin led the way for the Dogs, while first-year forward Lachie McNeil (pictured below) broke into the senior side and had an impact inside-50. The Bulldogs also gave a chance to Anthony Scott , who has been training with the squad in recent weeks in the hope of a position via the pre-season supplemental selection period. Scott, who is favoured to win a list spot, didnât look out of place. No.1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was not selected in the senior game and instead featured in the reserves game that followed in the afternoon. The Hawks waited until after half-time to blood their top pick Denver Grainger-Barras in the back half, but Connor Downie looked good through the wing and is a shot for a round one start. Former Magpie Tom Phillips rotated through the midfield and was busy in his first outing in the brown and gold. Former Crow Kyle Hartigan had an impact in the backline with his strength and physical presence, particularly in the first half, and helped steer his side from the defensive 50.
Round one bolters
It is a fit line-up at the kennel, with Zaine Cordy, Josh Schache, Cody Weightman, Ed Richards and Taylor Duryea all left out of the main game. McNeil and Scott , if he gets signed, loom as potential early-season call ups for Luke Beveridgeâs side. Hawthorn gave a few more youngsters a go, such is their rebuild position, with Changkuoth Jiath impressing off half-back with his pace, dash and skill. Tyler Brockman , who was selected with pick No.46 at last yearâs NAB AFL Draft, was blooded as a small forward and although quiet could shape as a chance for the Hawksâ season-opening clash with Essendon.
Tyler Brockman lays a strong tackle on Ben Cavarra. Picture: AFL Photos
Injury watch
There was a scare late for Tom Liberatore (pictured below) who was hunched in the middle of the ground after a heavy collision but he ran from the field with bloodied face and had it attended to. Key forward Aaron Naughton didnât play on Wednesday as he nurses a corkie from training, while Easton Wood (hamstring) and Toby McLean (knee) were among the others missing for the Dogs. Hawthornâs big guns Tom Mitchell (shoulder), James Sicily (knee) and Jack Gunston (back) were all sidelined, while Chad Wingard as well suffered a calf injury in last weekâs intraclub and is in doubt for round one.
Fantasy tempters
The time spent in the midfield from Phillips should make him a consideration, while Downie as well looms as a popular Fantasy choice with his progress. Jarman Impey looks back to his bouncy best after two injury-interrupted seasons, and James Worpel was everywhere in the midfield and should be registering strong scores. Rhylee West was dogged for the Bulldogs as a pressure forward and also chipped in with a goal, and could be a cheaper option.
If he is withering in the 2âs his price drops
No way he plays 2s though
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Whatâs changed?
He wasnât getting played where he wanted and theyâve got no injuries to give him a place and added Treloar. He will have to absolutely tear the house down after asking to be traded 2 years before the end of his contract in order to be taken seriously. If he does that, 2 things would likely happen in my opinion, the dogs will want even more to consider letting him go or theyâll hold him for the 2nd year and by then will we still be wanting a player that offers what he can do?
I can see him leaving the dogs 2022 and I doubt it will be to us.
Not as yet
Just got the $250 a head season preview at Crown Palladium ticket info email though
Another option. This year is a holding pattern, he plays but not in his primary role, but does it as he is a professional. Bulldogs are not holding onto them like they did to only then drop him to the 2âs.
However his performance is not to previous standard, and as a result his value is decreased.
Rather than risk another trade week drama, and potential further diminished value, the dogs trade him at the end of 2021 for our 2022 1st. I believe we would still want him.
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Why are dogs labled as a primership fancy? They lost their elim final
No one listed Essendon as a premiership fancy the next year after playing finals
They have added Treloar and JUH. Got a good talent spread. Understandable
We added Saad,Stringer,Shiel,Smith didnât make a difference
I reckon because they won flag media pundits assume they will win another one
They still have big holes in their list, lack of talented small forwards and missing some quality in KPD. But a midfield like theirs gets them somewhere thereabouts. After that you never know.
I donât think they will win it, but I understand why some think it is plausible
The consensus seemed to be that they wanted 2 first round picks for him from memory. They know we want him and that he nominated us, even if weâre only interested his manager would be a fool not to use it to drive his value up, by getting him to talk to other clubs. It was a great opportunity that presented itself, but it didnât pan out and I hope we donât pursue him down the track because we will get completely bent over to make it happen. There are other blokes out there we could make a play for at the end of the season this year surely.
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Lots to play out, guess we wait and see.
I think we will go again.
Saints gave North a fair beating
Richmond vs Melbourne on now
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