How spoiling Dustin Martin’s 300th game could propel Hawks to unexpected finals spot

After five rounds, the Hawks were winless and no sure thing to topple North Melbourne. Now, JAY CLARK writes, they’re one of the most dangerous sides in the competition and a chance to make a shock September appearance.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 08: Will Day of the Hawks leaves the field after a win during the 2024 AFL Round 13 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the GWS GIANTS at UTAS Stadium on June 08, 2024 in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Hawthorn will attempt to spoil Dustin Martin’s 300th game celebrations at the MCG on Saturday when the club attempts to continue its red-hot run towards a finals berth.

The Hawks have recovered from an awful 0-5 start to emerge as one of the most in-form and dangerous teams in the competition after a thrilling win over GWS Giants on Saturday.

And it is the new-look forward combination which was brought together late last year which has flexed its muscle to sit only four points outside the eight.

Mabior Chol and ex-Pie Jack Ginnivan continue to silence their critics, Will Day is a genuine A-Grade midfielder and Josh Weddle has become one of the game’s most exciting playmakers.

And the improved form this season will bolster the club’s push for established talent in this year’s trade period with the Hawks chasing St Kilda free agent Josh Battle, GWS utility Harry Perryman and Bulldog Bailey Smith.

Will Day thanks supporters after walking off the ground following Hawthorn’s win over GWS. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

The Hawks have won five of their last six games including a one-point loss to Port Adelaide and are eager to spoil Martin’s party against the improved Tigers at the MCG.

The clubs are expecting a bumper crowd of about 80,000 for the triple Norm Smith Medallist’s milestone. Martin, who is considered one of the greatest players of the modern era, won the 2007 Brownlow Medal and helped spearhead the club to three flags.

But his future is uncertain beyond this season as the Tigers try to re-sign the superstar goal kicker.

Mitchell said the Hawks were confident of putting aside any distraction around Martin’s 300th after some delayed flights for staff on Saturday caused some late changes to off-field roles before the win over the Giants.

“When you are playing in big games there is going to be a lot of peripheral information which may or not be relevant,” Mitchell said.

“We come up this week for instance and we play Richmond and it will be Dusty’s 300th and this whole week will be about that and we will need to take that into account and be ready for that.

“But we also need to play a game we are proud of and that will be our focus in every game we play because what we hope in our future is bigger games and finals and grand finals.

“That is what we are building this team for.

Josh Weddle is an emerging superstar for the Hawks. Picture: Michael Klein

“When the time comes we want to make sure we can handle whatever pressures are there.”

Richmond is expecting premiership spearhead Tom Lynch to play in the clash against the Hawks in the twilight clash, while Mitchell was delighted with Chol.

“He has been as consistent as he has ever been across his career and I think he did some vital things for us because we knew we were going to be up against it in the aerial battle against GWS,” Mitchell said.

St Kilda great Leigh Montagna said the Hawks were on track to become a top-four side in three-to-four years after starting the rebuild in Alastair Clarkson’s last year in 2021.

“Mitchell has had three years where he has continued to cut and they are doing a great job,” Montagna said on Triple M.

“It is still going to be ups and downs with the Hawks but the last six weeks they are playing sensational footy.”

Former Collingwood and Carlton superstar Dale Thomas said the Hawks’ coaching staff deserved credit for tweaking the game style in-season.

“The first five weeks were putrid and they tried a few things and it didn’t work and they were bold enough to change something in-season,” Thomas said on Triple M.

“It is back to the more offensive brand. We are going to score.”

Originally published as How spoiling Dustin Martin’s 300th game could propel Hawks to unexpected finals spot