Hawthorn to use switch kicks in bid to neutralise Richmond’s key weapon, writes David King

DOES Hawthorn have to come up with something new to beat the Tigers? Ridiculous, according to DAVID KING, who thinks one team may already laid out a blueprint for Alastair Clarkson’s team.

Dustin Martin will be a key figure on Thursday night. Pic: AAP

THE conversation about Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson and his lieutenants having to invent or fabri­cate a game plan outside of their usual methods in order to defeat Richmond is simply ridiculous.

Richmond’s intercept game relies on applying pressure where the football is, forcing the opposition to panic kick and allowing its aggressive spatial defensive positioning to intercept mark at will.

Clarkson’s kicking game will switch the football constantly from one side of the ground and back, testing the Tigers’ ability to main­tain their rigid grid-like int­egrity.

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If they fail, the Hawks will use the available targets in the corridor — and more specifically the points of the centre square on the true halfback flanks.

This will allows them to use unopposed teammates on the extremities.

So it won’t be one switch of play to exit, it will be a minimum of “two and through”.

Alastair Clarkson knows how his team must play the Tigers. Pic: AAP

Star defender James Sicily is back for the Hawks. Pic: Getty Images

The Western Bulldogs showed the way in Round 23 — it was brilliant from Luke Beveridge and his coaches.

The ease of the Bulldogs’ counter-attack allowed high-quality forward-half ball use and minimal Tiger intercept marks — a season low eight in the defensive half for Alex Rance and company.

If James Sicily and Jack Gunston play in defence they are all-important counter­attackers by foot.

Richmond doesn’t win the initial possession (it is 15th for contested ball and 18th in clearances), being geared to turn it over through pressure and positioning.

Take away the turnover and it’s a whole new ball game.

Cut and paste the following from Bevo to Clarko — “Two and through” … switch and shift the Tigers’ defensive grid.

The Bulldogs took it right up to Richmond in the final home and away round. Pic: Michael Klein

Conversely, Richmond will challenge Hawthorn to defend the run and carry handball game that has driven it through the past 30 games.

Curtailing the speed out of stoppages from Kane Lambert, Shane Edwards and Co. is like catching water as they handball through bewildered and confused opposition defenders on the periphery of congestion.

Blink and they’re gone.

Lambert is the igniter, over and above Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin, being the one who charges forward the ins­tant he thinks his teammates are likely to win possession.

When Richmond exits a stoppage via handball it ach­ieves an inside 50 more often than any other team.

Shane Edwards is a master at setting teammates into space. Pic: AAP

It’s a game-changing methodology that all teams will be adopting next year, which highlights the need to win premierships when tactically ahead of the curve.

Clearances have been Richmond’s issue, and while not leaking scores, the Tigers do lose territory — and Damien Hardwick will have Jack Graham on ready for a negating role on Tom Mitchell or Jaeger O’Meara if they get off the chain as Rory Sloane did early in last year’s Grand Final.

The premiership hangover has never been a conversation regarding the Tigers this year, and has not been visible game-day or otherwise at any stage.

This Tiger unit enjoyed the fruits of last year’s success and it is thirsty for more.

Good luck getting in their way.

I can see Dusty spraying the Dom Perignon again this September … and the Tigers will start their mission by downing the Hawks by seven points.