Hawthorn's Best 22 for 2014

[Mr.Craig]

I'm not willing to write off Shoey as a decent defender yet but he should certainly do some swinging this year.

Big Boy...I hadn't really though about him getting vested but I guess we could go that way a little. I think we probably need to give Sewell, Hodge and Burgoyne the occasional red to get them through the year. With Bailey/Savage gone it does throw up some different possibilities.

[m0nty]

I don't see McEvoy as much different to Bailey in the ruck, given they were both down the bottom of the league in hitouts to advantage. His added value is around the ground. The established strategy of subbing off the #1 ruck mid-Q3 and relying on Hale with a bit of Roughead for the rest of the game, and injecting a young bloke with pace, will still work with McEvoy. Though maybe it would be Hale subbed off instead?

[nrich102]

So Big Boy will go back instead of forward? Interesting.

[henry]

I don't see McEvoy as much different to Bailey in the ruck, given they were both down the bottom of the league in hitouts to advantage. His added value is around the ground. The established strategy of subbing off the #1 ruck mid-Q3 and relying on Hale with a bit of Roughead for the rest of the game, and injecting a young bloke with pace, will still work with McEvoy. Though maybe it would be Hale subbed off instead?

Yeah I thought it would be more likely to be hale. Although not sure how useful big boy is at playing inside 50 for spells, and if he's useless which he may well be it might be worth keeping hale on as a 3rd/4th tall when not rucking.

[JBs-Hawks]

I don't see McEvoy as much different to Bailey in the ruck, given they were both down the bottom of the league in hitouts to advantage. His added value is around the ground. The established strategy of subbing off the #1 ruck mid-Q3 and relying on Hale with a bit of Roughead for the rest of the game, and injecting a young bloke with pace, will still work with McEvoy. Though maybe it would be Hale subbed off instead?

Yeah I thought it would be more likely to be hale. Although not sure how useful big boy is at playing inside 50 for spells, and if he's useless which he may well be it might be worth keeping hale on as a 3rd/4th tall when not rucking.

Takes a pretty good pluck and can kick so could be handy. Probably quite similar to Hale.

[Mr.Craig]

My take on Round 1...

BACK: Suckling, Gibson, Duryea
HB: Birchall, Stratton, Burgoyne
MID: Hill, Mitchell, Smith
HF: Roughead, Lewis, Breust
FWD: Hale, Gunston, Puopolo

FOLL: McEvoy, Hodge, Shiels

BENCH: Sewell, Langford, Simpkin, Cheney

[SydneyRox]

No Rioli?

[Rusty00]

No Rioli?

Suspended Round 1 ;)

[Toga]

Who's your tips for green/red vests Craigy (assuming no injuries)?

[SydneyRox]

No Rioli?

Suspended Round 1 ;)

I tried to look that up and failed :(

[Mr.Craig]

Who's your tips for green/red vests Craigy (assuming no injuries)?

My crystal ball is a bit hazy but I'd give Simpkin the green and Duryea the red. With Lake out I think it would be handy for us to have Cheney around and Langford may have just done enough to earn a full game.

[Scrads]

My take on Round 1...

BACK: Suckling, Gibson, Duryea
HB: Birchall, Stratton, Burgoyne
MID: Hill, Mitchell, Smith
HF: Roughead, Lewis, Breust
FWD: Hale, Gunston, Puopolo

FOLL: McEvoy, Hodge, Shiels

BENCH: Sewell, Langford, Simpkin, Cheney

I reckon they might give Hallahan a run ahead of Cheney.

Lake, Rioli, Schoenmakers, Anderson and Whitecross the next lot pushing for spots when fit. The first 2 cone straight in but the other 3 spend some time at BH first.

[Toga]

Who's your tips for green/red vests Craigy (assuming no injuries)?

My crystal ball is a bit hazy but I'd give Simpkin the green and Duryea the red. With Lake out I think it would be handy for us to have Cheney around and Langford may have just done enough to earn a full game.

Cheers Craigy, appreciate it! Just had a few concerns over starting someone like Langford or even Suckling due to the vests.

[Scrads]

Melbourne v Hawthorn
Saturday 8 March
Casey Fields, 1pm

Hawthorn practice match squad
2. Roughead
3. Lewis
4. Suckling
5. Mitchell
6. Gibson
7. McEvoy
10. Hill
12. Sewell
13. Cheney
14. Birchall
15. Hodge
16. Smith
18. Ceglar.
19. Gunston
20. Hale
22. Breust
23. O'Brien
24. Stratton
26. Shiels
28. Puopolo
29. Langford
31. Litherland
32. Simpkin
36. Wanganeen
38. Hallahan
39. Woodward
46. Heatherley

[Scrads]

I can see Heatherley getting games in rounds 1 and 2 until Lake comes back. Gibson and Stratton won't be able to cope by themselves IMO.