Hawks - They did absolutely nothing to change my opinion heading into the season that they've got comfortably the worst list in the league but to their credit I thought that last year and Sam Mitchell wizarded them into being competitive. Today, he could not. The most worrying part for mine is the word that first came to mind was soft, you just expect young untalented sides to try harder and they honestly didn't look like they were even trying harder than the Cats and the Cats looked like they were coasting and just playing with their food. Either Sam Mitchell has no idea where he wants to play anyone or he's a master of deceit trying to reveal nothing before the season, sadly I think it's the first and it's not even his fault, he must look at his list and wonder why there are no midfielders on the entire list but that's going to be a huge issue all year, they might have one of the least talented lists in recent times. There's not even really anyone missing.
Missing - Lewis, Jiath, Morrison, Stephens and Breust.
Newcombe - Someone has to win all their ball and someone has to lay all their tackles. Honestly he could push 120 this year because he might be there only genuinely AFL level midfielder heading into the season. He was one of the few who tried.
Impey - Played primarily HB, did seem to float to wings and even HF at time. He did some nice things but nothing to write home about.
Worpel - He was another mid who at least tried, although I'm sure his teammates and Hawks' fans kind of wish he didn't because 9/10 when he gets the ball it's a disaster. I will say his handballing was better than last time around and he did at least look to handball instead of kick often but realistically if he's playing big midfield minutes you're in huge trouble, several of the WAFL guys that West Coast trotted out are better players than him. Ironically as bad as he is, he could actually be very strong in fantasy this year. Same as Newcombe, someone has to do it and he was 2nd in line today. Feels really hard to pick such a bad player but often opportunity is more important. If he was 50k cheaper he'd be an easy choice or even if he had FWD. Probably his biggest impediment will be staying in the side when they're losing and he's turning it over a dozen times a game, glass half full is you have to get some ball to turn it over that much right?
Sicily - Apparently up the field meant rover and I've never seen someone who looks so good elsewhere on the field look so utterly lost as he did playing it. Thankfully it was only 5 minutes of him looking clueless before Sam ended the experiment, in that time they lost every stoppage he was at, he ran past the ball twice, lost his footing 3 times and fumbled it the other time. On a positive, he looked as good as every down back and was at his gluttonous best. Bramble took the vast majority of kick-ins but even that didn't stop him as he pulled out the captains demand for the short 15m kick to nowhere on half of them! Looks great and hopefully he was so bad that the midfield dream is over already.
Reeves - Not even bolding him, that should sum up how I felt about how he played against two of the worst rucks. He was the #1 ruck though and it was pretty dominant, must have taken 75% of ruckwork to my eye. He wasn't dominant at stoppages and he offers almost nothing around the ground.
Frost/Blanck - Played KPD, were well beaten.
Amon - Played a pure wing role, surprising given their midfield issues and plethora of wing and HB types but not shocking given he's a good winger, still think he should be their #1 midfielder though and surprised he wasn't at least tried there. Not fantasy relevant in the wing role on a dreadful team.
Nash - Lined up on the other wing and looked pretty much as lost as he has at every other position barring inside bull.
Day - One of their main midfield options and probably the third best for mine, unlike Worpel he at least looks to try and think before kicking. He's pretty ordinary at the contest though and went down to minimal contact several times, not sure if he was playing for frees or just not able to use his body but it was worrying. When he didn't do that he actually looked very decent, I genuinely think he was playing for frees which if that's the case he needs to stamp it out now as the umps weren't buying it. Did some nice things, was the guy who swapped with Sicily for the ill fated 5 minutes and looked as good as ever in that floating defender role (which is his natural role but Sicily is bigger and better). Personally I'd swap him with Amon but he's at least got talent and is worth a shot in the mids, needs a lot of work on the physicality and body work aspect. I'd put him in a small cage with Newcombe and just tell him to maul him until he works it out!
Moore - HF role all game, didn't see him in the mids at all. High HF so not a bad role but a role that traditionally maxes out around what he scored last year. I'd personally be using him in the midfield, yes he's by far their best forward but that doesn't matter if the midfield is this bad and he'd bring everything they need there also. I can't pick him in that role against so many other guys with genuine role improvements but credit anyone who does take him on if it works, great little player.
Scrimshaw/Hardwick/Bramble - Took the small defender roles. Bramble took the majority of kick-ins, including a couple where he wasn't the nearest of the group which says he's the main option to me. Rest as you'd expect. With Jiath, Impey and Sicily there's still way too many options.
Meek - Played CHF essentially, all things considered he actually did it pretty well but he's well out of position there. It's odd to use the mobile around the ground ruck who could actually add to the midfield and is at least 90% of the ruckman as the beanpole as the standing down the line outnumbered target instead of using the immobile, tall guy as that target. Sam Mitchell earned so many credits from me last year, he was my coach of the year by a clear margin, but he's confusing me early this year, turn away from the Bevo side Sam! Can't pick him based on this game and all the talk of 2 rucks. Think he went off at HT.
Lynch - Came on Q3. Did nothing.
Wingard - Was close to their best and in one of the weirdest sights, one of the few who actually tried, I know... Played high HF, albeit when the ball lives at the other end everyone looks like a high HF. Looked fit. I can't do it again but wouldn't shock me if he punches towards the 90s as think there will be a lot of cheap ball going around. Probably him and Moore get in each other's ways and both end up 80s though if you made me pick an outcome.
Kosi - Played KPF, completely outmatched with no real help.
DGB - Came on after HT, didn't do a lot.
Ward - He was their 2nd best mid for mine, he's almost the polar opposite of Worpel in that his issue is more being too slow using the ball than not thinking about it at all but I'd much rather the Ward end of it where you get caught a couple of times but when you use it you hit the right targets. Said it all last year but he reminds me so much of Zach Merrett as a player. He didn't get many (any?) time in Q1 but was their best in Q2 and good in Q3 as a pure mid. Be surprised if he's not a 115 guy in a few years time, just does everything well from a SC perspective. Super clean hands, great kicking and just reads the contest and off hands so well. If he was 100k cheaper or Worpel wasn't going to be in the way I'd like him a lot more.
Greene - Looks like a clone of Gunston, moves like him, leading patterns to create space like him and just a clever player. He's going to be absolutely starved of opportunities but he was a clear class above their other forwards not named Moore and Wingard in actually know where to lead and when to lead. I can't see him being fieldable but he looks clear best 22 to me and capable of making cash. Just looks a smart player and reckon he'll kick a couple of bags at some point.
Butler - He was one of their best, played as a forward, more anchored HF type of role and did a good job of finding pockets to work in. Really tough role and can't foresee anyone needing him but I guess the more options the merrier right?
MacDonald - Played as a forward, he wasn't terrible given opportunities but he did nothing to suggest he wasn't the guy Breust should replace, imo.
Maginness - Started on ball but played forward for the majority of the game with no tagging. We all know why he's in the team and when you watch him play without a tagging job you quickly realise it's the only reason he's in the team as he had no idea what to do without a pocket to cling to. Looks mighty fit and ready to be the bane of our existence because honestly, you may as well play a tagger if Worpel is your other option.
Weddle - Role was great, pure wing. Did not find much ball though and the couple of times he did weren't the classiest, ok that's being nice, they weren't classy at all, but he's AFL ready. If he's playing wing that should be a good role. Saw little to suggest he's an on-field option but the role should make that possible. Will watch as they've got so many HB/W types that he's an obvious guy that squeezes out for Jiath, Morrison and Stephens if they come in.
Jeka - Came on after HT, did a couple of nice things but no value here for mine.
Hustwaite - Also came on after HT, looks like he could be decent, played midfield but also looks another preseason away. If he can add about 10kg he'll be looking a lot like Bont out there as a mid. That he played is a good sign though, especially given those who played ahead of him did absolutely nothing to shut the door on him!
