Preview 2025 Round 3 - Hawthorn vs GWS Giants, Saturday 29 March, 7.35 pm UTAS Stadium, Launceston

[GWS Goose]

We played shorter than usual on the weekend due to the wet conditions. I don't think anyone here considered that Max would be the sub until game day came around.

Briggs, Hogan and Stringer will come in and the two obvious outs are Brown and Leake. It's then simply a battle between Max, Keeffe and Riccardi for the third tall/back-up ruck position. It's no different to our usual structure.

Ive done that replacement with Gru being in the team, so our normal formation. assuming we will push a small to sub.

 

[Adam Giant]

Ive done that replacement with Gru being in the team, so our normal formation. assuming we will push a small to sub.

I just can't see them dropping Keeffe, especially with Briggs returning from a concussion layoff. Lloyd Meek is a monster of a man so the extra size will be helpful in combatting him.

Max was pretty good in Round 0 but I doubt he'd have made the squad if Jesse was fit.

Wehr will likely be the sub, but Thomas and McMullin are probably in the mix too.

 

[PaythePerryman]

Ive done that replacement with Gru being in the team, so our normal formation. assuming we will push a small to sub.

Forward Line -
Daniels Greene Jones
Riccardi Hogan Cadman
+
Stringer

Riccardi second ruck
Drop: Brown, Keeffe, Gruz

 

[PaythePerryman]

Buckley Taylor Idun
Whitfield Ash Himmel

Green Callaghan Kelly
Briggs XO Bedford

Daniels Greene Jones
Riccardi Hogan Cadman

Bench
Stringer Ward Cogs Stone
Sub- McMullin

 

[GWS Goose]

I just can't see them dropping Keeffe, especially with Briggs returning from a concussion layoff. Lloyd Meek is a monster of a man so the extra size will be helpful in combatting him.

Max was pretty good in Round 0 but I doubt he'd have made the squad if Jesse was fit.

Wehr will likely be the sub, but Thomas and McMullin are probably in the mix too.

Maybe they keep Keefe at the expense of Stringer or Cadman.

Cant see how they can play all of Briggs, Hogan, Cadman, Keefe and Stringer. That is one too many talls and 2 more than Sunday.

 

[Adam Giant]

Cant see how they can play all of Briggs, Hogan, Cadman, Keefe and Stringer. That is one too many talls and 2 more than Sunday.

That's the same formation we had for Round 0, if you are assume Gruzewski and Brown were like-for-like replacements for Hogan and Stringer respectively. Briggs, Gruzewski, Cadman, Keeffe and Brown all played together in the first game. Although Briggs' early injury made it hard to get an exact read on how they'd all fit in together.

I guess it really depends on your definition of 'tall'. I see Brown and Stringer as more 'medium/tallish' options competing for the one spot. They're contrasting players with different strengths and weaknesses, but both can be used in out of the goal square or in other positions. If everyone's fit, then I imagine Stringer is the preferred option of the two right now.

 

[sydney_gws]

Think I agree with all this, with the only caveat being that we may end up running with Gru instead of Keeffe to avoid being too tall up forward. But it would be very hard to drop Keeffe after his heroics yesterday.

Wehr and XOH should keep their spots to avoid making too many changes all at once to a winning team.

This is going to be a big game for us and the most dangerous game for the start of our season. Hawthorn are looking red hot at the moment, but if we can knock them off I think we will easily get to 5-0 to start off the season with games against West Coast and St Kilda coming up next.

Perhaps keefe plays, Stringer as sub to hopefully replace Keefe at some stage. I think keefe is more likely to play if there are concerns about Briggs lasting the game.

 

[JC100]

Maybe they keep Keefe at the expense of Stringer or Cadman.

Cant see how they can play all of Briggs, Hogan, Cadman, Keefe and Stringer. That is one too many talls and 2 more than Sunday.

Helps that stringer is a mid/forward then doesn’t it.

Stringer has never been a key forward.

 

[Giant Gutsache]

Buckley Taylor Idun
Whitfield Ash Himmel

Green Callaghan Kelly
Briggs XO Bedford

Daniels Greene Jones
Riccardi Hogan Cadman

Bench
Stringer Ward Cogs Stone
Sub- McMullin

Great looking side. Unsure if there is the balance to control the Hawks’ small forwards. Maybe Wehr keeps his spot.

 

[PaythePerryman]

Great looking side. Unsure if there is the balance to control the Hawks’ small forwards. Maybe Wehr keeps his spot.

Generally Himmelberg takes a small right? With Stone, Ash, Whitfield, Idun I think that's enough cover.
I really like Wehr but if he's playing I reckon it would be on the wing where I currently have Ward & Cogs.

 

[orange tsunami]

I personally prefer Riccardi over keefe, we can’t be overhyping keefe so much when he gave away 6 frees to Gawn. I get he was the hero, however imo riccardi would play a better back up ruck role than him.

 

[Waspy79]

Really want us to win this one. Still don’t really rate the Hawks who for the second time in 3 games will benefit from the bye fiasco established by the Round Zero farce.

 

[Adam Giant]

however imo riccardi would play a better back up ruck role than him.

He’s definitely a better forward than Keeffe but I’m not convinced he’s a better ruck. He might have to prove that in the twos and earn his way back in. I don’t think Jake’s 2024 form makes him a walk-up starter to a team that’s already winning without him.

 

[PaythePerryman]

He’s definitely a better forward than Keeffe but I’m not convinced he’s a better ruck. He might have to prove that in the twos and earn his way back in. I don’t think Jake’s 2024 form makes him a walk-up starter to a team that’s already winning without him.

With Briggs back Riccardi should only be handling their back up ruck most of the time. I think what he brings and the match hips he forces makes it worth it.

From all reports he had a great pre-season.

 

[Adam Giant]

With Briggs back Riccardi should only be handling their back up ruck most of the time. I think what he brings and the match hips he forces makes it worth it.

Maybe. When he’s good he’s good but Jake’s issues have often been with attention to detail. Lazy efforts and silly mistakes can be his downfall.

It’s why I think Cadman is still a good option for that role. Get’s him a bit more involved and he did it well in limited opportunities last season. That would open up the possibility of playing Hogan, Cadman, Stringer and Brown all in the same team. There’s a lot of scoring power in there.

 

[PaythePerryman]

Maybe. When he’s good he’s good but Jake’s issues have often been with attention to detail. Lazy efforts and silly mistakes are often his downfall.

It’s why I think Cadman is still a good option for that role. Get’s him a bit more involved and he did it well in limited opportunities last season. That would open up the possibility of playing Hogan, Cadman, Stringer and Brown all in the same team. There’s a lot of scoring power in there.

Fair. I'm still backing Ricca, Cadman, Hogan as the talls.
Making the Stringer + Toby match ups even harder.
I'm also not keen on sending our future FF number 1 pick into the Ruck at 20. I know he did it a bit last year but it wasn't great and I want him developing up forward as much as possible.

 

[GWS Goose]

That's the same formation we had for Round 0, if you are assume Gruzewski and Brown were like-for-like replacements for Hogan and Stringer respectively. Briggs, Gruzewski, Cadman, Keeffe and Brown all played together in the first game. Although Briggs' early injury made it hard to get an exact read on how they'd all fit in together.

I guess it really depends on your definition of 'tall'. I see Brown and Stringer as more 'medium/tallish' options competing for the one spot. They're contrasting players with different strengths and weaknesses, but both can be used in out of the goal square or in other positions. If everyone's fit, then I imagine Stringer is the preferred option of the two right now.

I don't see brown and stringer as interchangeable.
Stringer plays like a key forward, Brown closer to a small.
We lose a stack of mobility.
Hogan for Gru we also get bigger and slower.

 

[Giant Gutsache]

Generally Himmelberg takes a small right? With Stone, Ash, Whitfield, Idun I think that's enough cover.
I really like Wehr but if he's playing I reckon it would be on the wing where I currently have Ward & Cogs.

Hope you’re right. The change from last year is Stone for Perryman. Last year the smalls tended to show our defense up at times. Part of it is the mids needing to get back to support.

 

[Waspy79]

I don't see brown and stringer as interchangeable.
Stringer plays like a key forward, Brown closer to a small.
We lose a stack of mobility.
Hogan for Gru we also get bigger and slower.

Stringer does not play like a key forward, and Brown is likely better over head. Your observations baffle me.

 

[JC100]

Stringer does not play like a key forward, and Brown is likely better over head. Your observations baffle me.

Couldn’t have said it better myself

 

[JC100]

He’s definitely a better forward than Keeffe but I’m not convinced he’s a better ruck. He might have to prove that in the twos and earn his way back in. I don’t think Jake’s 2024 form makes him a walk-up starter to a team that’s already winning without him.

agree that Riccardi isn’t a walk up start and I think he will have to come back through the VFL. Keefe is a better ruck and I think Gru is at least on par with Riccardi if we want more of a forward.

 

[PaythePerryman]

agree that Riccardi isn’t a walk up start and I think he will have to come back through the VFL. Keefe is a better ruck and I think Gru is at least on par with Riccardi if we want more of a forward.

Gruz isn't at Riccardi's level just yet. I also don't think that Kingsley really rates rucks as a massive component of our game plan. I believe he'd rather have a better forward than a better second ruck.
Keeffe rucked all day against Gawn and got smashed and we SOMEHOW won the clearances....which has been a huge issue for us. It wasn't coz Keeffe was good at Rucking either.

 

[Adam Giant]

Gru is at least on par with Riccardi if we want more of a forward.

The signs this year are really good. His work rate and 'footy IQ' seem to be better than Jake's already. Riccardi has the physical attributes and skills to be a topliner, but we only see it occasionally.

 

[PaythePerryman]

The signs this year are really good. His work rate and 'footy IQ' seem to be better than Jake's already. Riccardi has the physical attributes and skills to be a topliner, but we only see it occasionally.

I'd agree with that. Gruz has sticky hands and seems to keep his structure really well.
Riccardi's size and kicking range make him still a prospect worth persevering with though. Especially given where he is ahead in development. He's 25 now and I think we need that age bracket to fire to make a real push deep into finals.
Cadman and Gruz are a great future duo though don't get me wrong

 

[JC100]

The signs this year are really good. His work rate and 'footy IQ' seem to be better than Jake's already. Riccardi has the physical attributes and skills to be a topliner, but we only see it occasionally.

Even at this early stage of is development I think Gruz brings more to the table structurally in a similar way to Keefe. Riccardi is beaten in the air to often and out marked. Keefe is very good at splitting the contest and Gruz was able to do that against the pies