Hawthorn recruit Jack Ginnivan starred for the Hawks, while the Western Bulldogs’ tall timber was prolific during the clubs’ final pre-season tune-up, which saw the Dogs prevail 17.17 (119) to 9.8 (62).
Ginnivan, the premiership-winning ex-Magpie, scored two goals from four scoring shots in the first half and was his typical lively self, buzzing around Hawthorn’s new-look forward line.
The Bulldogs started the game quickly, leading by five points at quarter-time after kicking two of the game’s first three goals.
The majors belonged to star-studded forward pair Aaron Naughton (four total goals for the game) and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (four), while Cam Mackenzie was Hawthorn’s sole goalkicker in the first term.
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In the second quarter, though, it was all Ginnivan, as he slotted a beautiful snap early in the second quarter to tie the scores at 19.
“Don’t they love him already!” exclaimed commentator Dwayne Russell.
They were loving him even more after he dodged a defender and slotted his second major in similar snapping fashion.
“He’s enjoying life in the brown and gold early,” said caller Kelli Underwood.
Key forward Mitch Lewis added two goals of his own in the second quarter to push Hawthorn’s lead to 17 at half-time.
Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon described the Dogs’ second quarter performance as “really disappointing” as they were left chasing the Hawks in the second half.
However, a “topsy-turvy” clash saw another turn as the Bulldogs piled on eight goals to Hawthorn’s two in the third quarter to snatch a 19-point lead at the final change.
The Bulldogs continued their dominance in the fourth stanza, slamming on another seven goals — unanswered — on their way to a convincing 57-point victory.
Young gun Ryley Sanders notched 30 disposals, which trailed only skipper Marcus Bontempelli (32) to lead the Dogs.
Jai Newcombe’s 37 possessions led the way for the Hawks, who ran out of puff in the second half at UTAS Stadium.
Coming into this contest, dual premiership Kangaroo David King urged Dogs coach Luke Beveridge to give emerging talls Sam Darcy and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan more responsibility in 2024.
“Luke Beveridge has got, in my opinion, the best set of talls going around that he’s had for some time,” King told Fox Footy’s First Crack season preview. “He’s not going to get a better set than Tim English, Sam Darcy, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Aaron Naughton, Liam Jones down back.
“I’m really excited about where they can go with Sam Darcy … It’s time to make, I think, Naughton a secondary or tertiary product in terms of your targets in the forward 50. Give Darcy and Jamarra the reins.”
The Hawks said second-year star Josh Weddle had been managed from the fixture, along with Jack Gunston and Harry Morrison.
“Given this is a practice match, we have decided to take no risks with these players as we eagerly prepare for our clash with Essendon in Round 1,” Hawthorn football boss Rob McCartney said on Friday.
THE 3-2-1
3) SANDERS STARS AMID POWERFUL DOGS
Lock him in for round one.
Ryley Sanders impressed in a pre-season scratch match and was once again in imposing form on Saturday night.
The teenage sensation has slotted into the Dogs’ packed midfield with aplomb, exceeding already high expectations for what he could deliver in his debut year.
Even more impressive for Sanders was the fact his output increased the longer the game went, with his final quarter tally of 12 disposals his most prolific.
He finished the match with 30 disposals, one goal assist and 10 score involvements in an impressive display of his talent, surely sealing a berth in the senior side come round one’s clash with Melbourne.
“We keep talking about Sanders for one good reason: He’s had 29 possessions, four clearances and 10 score involvements,” Garry Lyon told Fox Footy close to the game’s conclusion.
“There’s only one player on the ground that’s had more score involvements than Ryley Sanders and that’s a bloke by the name of Marcus Bontempelli who’s had 11.”
Sanders was complimented by some more experienced players across the ground, with Aaron Naughton and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan in particular a point of positivity up forward.
They finished with eight goals between them and loomed large throughout the night.
“He looks strong up forward,” Brad Johnson said of Naughton.
“The combination was very strong with Jamarra Ugle-Hagan as well, particularly in the second half where a lot of ball was provided to the forward half of the ground to the Bulldogs.
“They were always going to have some sort of impact on the game, but it was more just the aerial ability.
“I think not being outmarked throughout the night is what they’d be assessing themselves on.”
2) GINNIVAN HEADS UP HOPEFUL HAWKS
Jack Ginnivan treated Hawks fans to an early glimpse of what to expect in 2024.
While it came about late, the move to the Hawks made sense for Ginnivan, with the 21-year-old joining a side that is developing alongside him.
It may only be pre-season, but Ginnivan did enough to suggest he’ll fit right in at his second club.
The Hawks’ rapid counterattacks fed right into the hands of Ginnivan, who was superb in the second quarter as the Hawks mounted a comeback.
Dwayne Russell observed on Fox Footy that Ginnivan acted almost like one of the side’s “generals” in the second term, helping spearhead an attack that was lively and caused some headaches for the Dogs.
“Whether it was Luke Breust or Ginnivan or Watson, the three of them were up high and they were using the ball well off half-back, but then running again and creating and being involved in the play right throughout,” Brad Johnson said.
Where the Hawks struggled afterwards, Ginnivan too was quiet, suggesting the livewire forward could be a barometer of sorts for the side this year.
“For Jack, he’d be looking at the second quarter and go ‘it’s a whole different ball game when we can get it moving and it’s the overlap and it’s quick, I’ll find space, Watson will find space and Breust will find space’,” Lyon said.
“After halftime it became pretty hard because centre-bounce was 8-1 in that second quarter, they weren’t getting a look.
“I think he’s a great recruit.”
The youngster also offered puzzled fans an explanation for his ‘stirring the pot’ celebration post-game.
“It’s a bit of carry on. One of my mates owns an acai bowl place so I was just stirring the pot for him,” he told Fox Footy’s Ben Dixon.
1) DANIEL DILEMMA ON DISPLAY
He may be one of the shortest players in the game, but Caleb Daniel’s absence in the first half of Saturday’s clash was noticeable.
The 27-year-old was brought into the game after halftime, following conjecture over whether he’d even play in the match.
The Herald Sun reported this week Daniel has played some of his match simulation in the seconds as a midfielder, where there is plenty of competition for spots.
While Daniel played in the second half, there is still, according to the report, selection pressure on the 2020 best and fairest winner.
“I think Caleb plays (in the AFL side),” Dogs legend Brad Johnson told Fox Footy.
“He’s too good by foot and too classy to not be in the opening lineup for the Bulldogs.”
Still, the uncertainty over Daniel’s position in the side is perhaps indicative of the general fascination over the Dogs as a whole for 2024.
“Luke Beveridge’s interview pre-game with Dicko was interesting too, he said there were some big names that aren’t out there that you’d expect to have out there,” Garry Lyon observed on Fox Footy.
“Maybe he has put it on a couple players.
“There was an article today written about the fact that Caleb Daniel was fighting for his spot, which surprised everyone I think.
“Sometimes those stories are leaked just at the right time.”
HAWKS
B: Jarman Impey, Sam Frost, Ethan Phillips
HB: Jack Scrimshaw, James Sicily, Massimo D’Ambrosio
C: Karl Amon, James Worpel, Connor Macdonald
HF: Nick Watson, Mitch Lewis, Luke Breust
F: Jack Ginnivan, Mabior Chol, Finn Maginness
FOLL: Ned Reeves, Henry Hustwaite, Cam Mackenzie
I/C: Jai Newcombe, Bodie Ryan, Max Ramsden, Lloyd Meek, Josh Ward, Blake Hardwick, Conor Nash, Sam Butler
EMER: Clay Tucker, Josh Bennetts, Jai Serong, Calsher Dear
Notable absentees: Will Day, Josh Weddle, Jack Gunston, Dylan Moore, Changkuoth Jiath, James Blanck, Chad Wingard, Denver Grainger-Barras, Harry Morrison
BULLDOGS
B: Lachie Bramble, Liam Jones, Nick Coffield
HB: Ed Richards, Buku Khamis, Jason Johannisen
C: Bailey Williams, Adam Treloar, Harvey Gallagher
HF: Lachie McNeil, Rory Lobb, Cody Weightman
F: Rhylee West, Aaron Naughton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
FOLL: Tim English, Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore
I/C: Taylor Duryea, Laitham Vandermeer, James Harmes, Ryley Sanders, Caleb Daniel, Luke Cleary, Sam Darcy, Oskar Baker
EMER: Caleb Poulter, Anthony Scott, Charlie Clarke, Arthur Jones
Notable absentees: Jack Macrae, Bailey Dale, Alex Keath, Bailey Smith, Caleb Poulter
Recap Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs in the blog below! If you can’t see the blog, tap here.
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