HOW HAWTHORN CAN UPSET RICHMOND

A decade after Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson famously stopped the shark in the grand final win over Geelong, can he muzzle the Tiger?

UNCONTESTED MARKS

It was a feature of West Coast’s win over Richmond in round nine and a hallmark of the Hawks’ 2013-15 premierships. Even a team as good as the Tigers can’t do much if they don’t have possession. The key is using precise ball movement to pick a way through Richmond’s famed defensive pressure. Given the Tigers’ proven ability to win their own ball and generate turnovers, it’s also easier said than done.

INTERCEPT MARKS

The return of James Sicily from injury means he and Ben Stratton can work in tandem across half-back. They are excellent intercept marks – Stratton is stiff not to make the All-Australian squad and Sicily would have earned a spot had he not missed so many games with a wrist fracture. Jack Riewoldt has enjoyed an excellent season, but there’s only one of him in the Richmond attack.

RUN RUN RUN

All-Australian Luke Breust, wing Isaac Smith and Jarman Impey have pace to burn. Those intercept marks that Sicily and Stratton hopefully take? The aim should be to feed possession to Hawthorn’s outside players and try to swamp the Richmond defence.

PROJECT HARRY

Richmond’s last loss before their 2017 premiership was the round-21 visit to Geelong, where the undermanned Cats were outstanding. Geelong swingman Harry Taylor kicked four goals on Alex Rance and proved the difference in the upset 20-point win. It’s an idea worth pursuing – with Sicily and James Frawley returning to bolster the Hawthorn defence, why not throw Ryan Burton forward and have him try to run off Rance? St Kilda forward Nick Riewoldt also caused the Richmond defence headaches when he isolated Rance last season. Anything to take Rance and fellow key defenders Dylan Grimes and David Astbury out of their comfort zone.