As Port Adelaide pray for rain, Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has defended the dumping of renowned AFL mud-runner and club stalwart Brad Sewell.
Clarkson finally ran out of patience with Sewell after a prolonged form slump, dropping him for Saturday’s match against Port at Adelaide’s AAMI Stadium.
Sewell has bettered 17 disposals just once in the past month and even forecasts of rain and possible thunderstorms in Adelaide at game time couldn’t save the noted wet weather performer.
“He just hasn’t been playing well enough,” Clarkson told reporters on Friday at Melbourne Airport.
“We have got high standards with the way that we play and Sewelly has been a little bit scratchy for the last five or six weeks.
“We have got guys underneath who are challenging for positions and we just can’t keep them hanging on for guys who haven’t been performing to level we know that they can.”
Defender Brent Guerra replaced Sewell, who was disappointed at being axed, Clarkson said.
“But he’s a leader of our club. He knows his form hasn’t been to the level that he’s used to be playing for a long period of time now,” he said.
Given the expected foul weather, Clarkson predicted a “real tug of war” against Port, who are seeking to keep their eighth spot on the ladder.
The Power, one win ahead of ninth-placed West Coast, will miss suspended utility Justin Westhoff while Jack Hombsch was omitted, with John Butcher and Matt Thomas earning recalls.
Tall forward Butcher may struggle in the wet but Port assistant coach Matthew Nicks made no secret of his club’s desire for rain against the Hawks, who are the highest scoring team in the league.
“Against a side like Hawthorn, every side would like it to bucket down and be under water because they are such a skilful side,” Nicks told reporters in Adelaide on Friday.
“We would love it to be wet.
“We think this year we have really lifted our contested game. They’re a very good contested side.
“We know it’s going to be a tough one for us. But if we had the choice between super dry and wet, well, no doubt we would love to play them in the bog.”