David King backs Chad Wingard and Jaeger O’Meara to stand up in Tom Mitchell’s absence
Dismiss the Hawks at your peril. That is DAVID KING’S message on the eve of the 2019 season, with the former North Melbourne premiership player tipping the likes of Chad Wingard and Jaeger O’Meara to rise to another level.
Hawthorn
Don't miss out on the headlines from Hawthorn. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The premiership tilt by the Hawks hit a roadblock on January 11 when Tom Mitchell’s season ended through a broken leg. Mitchell’s absence will expose Hawthorn in key contested possession areas, most importantly as it has lost an unstoppable clearance-winning beast.
But history shows us the Hawks can win in other ways.
Alastair Clarkson plays chess when others are playing checkers — he tailors his game plan to the stocks available.
The isolated importance of the contested possession battle will not affect the Hawks as much as predicted.
SCORES: ULTIMATE JLT SUPERCOACH REVIEW
JOIN UP: HOW TO PLAY SUPERCOACH DRAFT
FREAKO: HOW KICK-INS WILL IMPACT SUPERCOACH
In the 2013-15 premiership era they were rated 11th for contested possession yet kicked 100 more goals than the next best team.
Expect the pressuring/intercepting game to come to the fore.
Last season Hawthorn caught all by surprise. After a one-year absence from the finals, its first for seven seasons, it shocked by winning 15 home and away games in what was supposed to be part of a rebuilding phase.
Mitchell answered his critics regarding the worth of his disposals after a dominant year by winning the Brownlow Medal, the Leigh Matthews AFLPA MVP and Hawthorn’s best and fairest.
Jaeger O’Meara silenced the doubters, playing 21 games, averaging 24 disposals and managing to kick 16 goals.
This will be O’Meara’s midfield group to lead after the loss of Mitchell and he is finally physically ready to tear the competition apart.
FIND YOUR NEAREST FOOTY19 PARTICIPATING RETAILER HERE
Clarkson doesn’t shop at the Boxing Day sales and he doesn’t buy houses off the plan. He knows what he wants and when that’s an exposed player, he’s prepared to pay the price. Add the Chad.
A dual All-Australian, Chad Wingard is coming into his prime at 25. Only 13 players, most of them key forwards, have kicked more goals than Wingard since 2013.
I’m convinced he’ll be a second-club sensation. When looking at the roles Jack Gunston and Luke Breust are asked to perform in the midfield, and across half-back while remaining prominent goalkickers, I’d imagine choosing the Hawks was an easy decision for Wingard.
With nine players entering the season on the wrong side of 30, the Hawks’ list is delicately placed regarding the volume of ageing stars, but their quality is undeniable.
Hawthorn’s success will run parallel to the impact from the 24-and-under group. James Sicily, Jarman Impey, Blake Hardwick, Harry Morrison, James Worpel, Conor Nash and Daniel Howe hold the key as to just how far the Hawks can go in 2019.
The acquisition of Tom Scully for a future fourth-round selection is a steal. If Scully can re-emerge as that gut-running line-breaker, the Hawks will have a mouth-watering Isaac Smith — Scully wing combination.
Due to rule changes, the wing position will become the most critical midfield role.
The leadership of Jarryd Roughead epitomises the Hawthorn culture.
After another 30-plus goal season, he handed over the captaincy without fuss or fanfare.
Losing Mitchell for the season is a blow, but it is impossible to write off Hawthorn.
* Footy19 is available while stocks last at participating newsagents and IGA and Woolworths stores in Victoria/Riverina. Cost is $4.95 plus purchase price of that day’s Herald Sun.
LAUREN WOOD’S SNAP CHAT WITH ISAAC SMITH
What’s the one AFL rule you would change?
No interchange. Players would fatigue and you’d see a lot of one-on-one contests.
Your go-to meal when the dietitians aren’t looking?
Potato cake with chicken salt and tomato sauce.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Anything Florence has sung (Florence and the Machine).
Who is your club’s best Fortnite player?
Does that mean they’ve played two good games in two weeks?
If I wasn’t a footballer I would be …
Prime Minister of Australia.
Most loved pre‑season drill?
Anything that I have to tackle in.
SUPERCOACH AFL WITH GILBERT GARDINER
1 CHAD WINGARD
$481,100 MID-FWD
Take on trust I. If anyone can get the best out of the dual All-Australian consistently it is Hawthorn premiership mastermind Alastair Clarkson.
2 TOM SCULLY
$334,900 MID
Take on trust II. The ex-GWS star wingman averaged 88 and 97 before breaking down last season with a serious ankle injury. Monitor closely despite no official timeline set for his return.
3 JAMES SICILY
$570,400 def
Take on trust III. Sicily was last year’s fourth-ranked defender and can score as big as anyone, but needs to avoid infuriating brain fades.
CHRIS CAVANAGH’S YOUNG GUN — JAMES WORPEL
Nicknamed “Worpedo”, there was plenty to like about this Hawk late last season as he played key roles in sinking a couple of rival teams. Fiercely competitive, the goalkicking midfielder gathered a cult following as he finished his debut season averaging 17.5 disposals from 11 games. All the signs point to even bigger things ahead.
Hawthorn takes over footy’s No.1 list
Three clubs have emerged from the 2024 season with the biggest stars in the AFL with a list of the top 50 players showing huge changes.
Trading places? How the biggest AFL deals will get done
Almost every AFL club is poised to get busy this trade period. See who your club is looking at, who they should be chasing and how they will get their deals done in our ultimate guide.