With the Hawks ready to take on Collingwood tonight, hawthornfc.com.au looks at the five key players who could impact the result.

1. Will Langford (Hawthorn)
Langford arrived on centre stage against the Cats on Saturday night, producing his best game for the club to consolidate his impressive season.

After a six-week mid-season intermission with Box Hill, Langford returned to the senior side with the same defensive endeavour as we’d seen in his shut down roles earlier in the season, but this time also a seemingly renewed confidence in his offensive capabilities.

He takes the game on and uses his speed to break the lines break lines as well as out of congestion, which adds another element to the Hawks midfield.

His past month has seen him average 24 disposals (13 contested possessions), six clearances, five tackles and four inside 50s, while his two goals and four goal assists during this time are indicative of his improved attacking abilities.

With a number of more-than-capable Hawks vying for a spot in September, Langford will be keen to carry this good form into the clash against Collingwood and make a statement about his place in the side ahead of finals.

2. Tim Broomhead (Collingwood)
The slightly built 20 year-old has demonstrated his class since making his debut in Round 13 this season and emerged as a key player for the Pies in the last fortnight.

After starting his first couple of games as the sub, Broomhead has revelled in the added responsibility he’s assumed due to the spate of injuries the Pies have copped recently.

Taken with pick 20 in the 2012 Draft, Broomhead is a quick midfielder/half-forward with a knack for finding space and making smart decisions with ball in hand.

His past two weeks have been exceptional, boasting an average of 20 disposals, six marks and three inside 50s, while booting five goals during this time.

In the absence of several key players, the Pies younger brigade will need to stand up if they are to knock over the Hawks, and Broomhead is the kind of player that relishes the challenge and will need to be paid due respect by the Hawks on Friday.

Tim Broomhead of Collingwood.

3. Brad Sewell (Hawthorn)
In his first game back at senior level following a hamstring injury, Sewell was instrumental in the Hawks’ 21-point win over Geelong on Saturday night, delivering his usual grunt work but also working forward to create goals and hit the scoreboard himself.

He finished with a serviceable 17 disposals, four clearances, three tackles, three inside-50s, the sealing goal and a game-high two goal assists.

Sewell was among four inclusions for the Geelong win, along with Jarryd Roughead, Matt Spangher and Jon Ceglar, who replaced Tim O’Brien, Ryan Schoenmakers, Ben McEvoy and Taylor Duryea.

Alastair Clarkson’s preferred mix of player types may be a weekly proposition, and with an array of Hawks busting down the selection door he will hope to produce convincing form against the Pies this week to sure up his spot in the side.

He was arguably best on ground in the last meeting between the Hawks and Pies with 26 disposals and seven inside 50s – a performance similar to that one tonight will do his finals chances no harm.

Sewell was one of Hawthorn's best against the Pies last time.

4. Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
We highlighted the Collingwood skipper in this week’s match preview but couldn’t go past naming him again as a play to watch tonight such is his impact on games.

The star Pie was the leading disposal winner on the ground in the Round 14 meeting between the two sides with 35 disposals and at times was the man keeping his side in the game.

With the injury crisis at Collingwood affecting a number of key stars, Pendlebury has taken it upon himself to lead by example and be a positive influence on his young teammates, which makes him the most dangerous Pie on the ground tonight.

He leads his team for average disposals (28.4), centre clearances (2.3) and tackles (5.6), while he will be the top ranked player for overall clearances (5.5) and inside 50s (3.5) in the team that takes the field on Friday night.

Pendlebury also enjoys the challenge of playing against the Hawks, averaging 27.4 disposals against them – his fifth-best record against any team in the league.

5. Josh Thomas (Collingwood)
After a breakout season in 2013, Thomas has been in and out of the Collingwood side this year but has now been thrown the challenge of carrying the midfield with his skipper, Pendlebury.

A ball magnet at VFL level and consistently named in the best with 30 or more disposals, Thomas is a quick in and under player who is dangerous around goals and a clearance machine.

After battling for form at AFL level this season due to a lack of conditioning and pre-season earlier in the year, the young Pie hit his straps against GWS last week and was best on ground in his side’s win.

Displaying his ball-winning ability with 29 touches and ability to impact the scoreboard (three goals), Thomas announced himself as a dangerous player in the Collingwood line-up.

Much like Langford, Thomas can break away from pack using his speed but it is in his use of the ball that can sometimes let him down, an area in which the Hawks will be looking to exploit and ensure he’s under pressure whenever he gets it.


Josh Thomas in action for Collingwood.