SUMMARY
Both sides return for the second clash of their pre-season campaigns having pulled off narrow wins in their first rehearsals. A goal after the siren from young midfielder Kade Stewart sealed a Hawthorn win, while North finished strongly to edge the Swans by two points in their opener. North Melbourne find themselves in a similar position to the Hawks this year; having been regular finals contenders over the past few years, the departure of much senior experience over the off-season has created an opportunity for the younger end of the list to step up.
WHERE AND WHEN: North Melbourne Recreation Reserve (formerly Arden Street), Sunday, February 26, 2.05pm AEDT
TV AND RADIO:
TV: Live on Fox Footy
Radio: 3AW, SEN, FIVEaa and AFL Nation
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME
Round 21, 2016: Hawthorn 14.12 (96) d North Melbourne 8.9 (57) at MCG
After the game's opening 20 minutes saw seven unanswered Hawthorn goals, Hawks fans were anticipating a much-needed percentage booster heading into finals. But the Kangaroos never went away, clawing their way back to only a 13-point deficit midway through the third quarter. In the end, that was as close as North would get. The Hawks kicked the final four goals of the game to close out a 39-point victory.
LAST FIVE TIMES
R21, 2016, Hawthorn 14.12 (96) d North Melbourne 8.9 (57) at MCG
R13, 2016, Hawthorn 14.9 (93) d North Melbourne 11.18 (84) at Etihad Stadium
R5, 2015, Hawthorn 19.16 (130) d North Melbourne 10.10 (70) at Etihad Stadium
R16, 2014, North Melbourne 16.12 (108) d Hawthorn 13.10 (88) at Etihad Stadium
R22, 2013, Hawthorn 17.15 (117) d North Melbourne 15.13 (103) at Etihad Stadium
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Hawthorn
1. Sunday afternoon will see the unveiling of another of Hawthorn's prized recruits as former Swan Tom Mitchell pulls the brown and gold jumper on for the first time. Set to wear the number three on his back, Hawks fans can expect a comparable level of ferocity in the contest and similar left-foot skills to that the previous jumper owner, Jordan Lewis, brought to the Hawks line-up.
2. Luke Hodge returns for his 17th campaign this weekend. This will be the first time since 2010 that Hodge runs out without the captaincy duties. In an interview last week, Hodge told afl.com.au that, since losing the burden of captaincy, his wife and others have described him as "more enjoyable" to be around - a sure sign that there are good things to come.
3.Having put in strong performances in week one of the JLT Series, the emerging brigade of Teia Miles, Kieran Lovell and Kade Stewart have been given another chance to impress the coaches in the lead-up to round one. All three youngsters seemed comfortable with the pace of the game last week, exemplified by the fact that they all recorded over 75% disposal efficiency.
North Melbourne
1. Just as numerous youngsters have done in the brown and gold, expect Roos names like Nathan Hrovat and Trent Dumont to put their hands up for their club's available midfield opportunities. Former Bulldog Hrovat converted his strong pre-season into JLT series form last week, picking up 17 disposals and kicking two goals, while Dumont had 14 disposals and laid a game-high 12 tackles.
2. The Roos are set to unleash their top 2016 draft pick this weekend, with former Murray Bushranger Jy Simpkin likely to be cleared to play against the Hawks. Taken with pick 12 last year, this game will be extra special for Simpkin, as it will be his first game after breaking his leg early in his draft year. Hailing from Mooroopna in country Victoria, Simpkin is renowned for his goal sense and composure in congestion.
3. There are multiple big-name Roos that are set to return this week against the Hawks after spending much of their pre-season on the injury list. All Australian ruckman Todd Goldstein, reigning best and fairest winner Robbie Tarrant and important defender Lachlan Hansen all seem set to return this week after enduring injury-interrupted preparations.
Read: Hawthorn announce its 29-man squad for JLT Game 2.
THE SIX POINTS
1. Despite the Hawks losing 666 games of experience with the exits of Sam Mitchell (307 games), Jordan Lewis (264) and Bradley Hill (95), that number is dwarfed by North Melbourne's loss of 1582 games worth of experience after they farewelled five club stalwarts Brent Harvey (430), Dal Santo (320), Drew Petrie (316), Michael Firrito (273) and Daniel Wells (243).
2. The average age of the North Melbourne squad that took on Sydney last weekend was more than four years younger than the team that took the field against Adelaide in their elimination final loss last year. The average age of that side was 27 years and 239 days whereas last week's squad had an average age of 23 years and 27 days, a massive drop-off. Remarkably, North had 19 players aged 23 or under, and eight players under 20 in its squad.
3. Todd Goldstein's imminent return should strike a certain level of fear in opposing ruckman's minds. The 2015 All Australian ruckman has been a dominant force in his caper finishing top three in season total hit-outs across the league every year since 2011. This feat is unmatched by any other ruckman across the same period.
Goldstein's season total hit-outs for the last six years:
- 2016: 2nd place (behind Max Gawn)
- 2015 1st
- 2014 2nd (Aaron Sandilands)
- 2013 2nd (Will Minson)
- 2012 3rd (Sam Jacobs and Minson)
- 2011 1st
4. Interestingly, of the 529 League games that have been played at Arden Street Oval (now known as North Melbourne Recreation Reserve), of the current teams, North Melbourne and Hawthorn share the two worst historical records at the venue. The Hawks own the worst record, winning only 40% of their 47 games at the ground. But perhaps more surprising, is that North Melbourne, at their home ground, come in at second last, winning 45% of their 529 games. Hawthorn also hold the record for the lowest score ever kicked at Arden Street, after they could manage only 2.13 (25) in a 75-point shellacking at the hands of the hosts in round 11 of 1950.
5. Sunday's clash will mark the fifth consecutive year that these two teams have met in a pre-season match-up. Hawks hold a 3-1 lead over the previous four pre-season meetings. Fans with a good memory may recall that in the 2013 tune-up, the game, held in Craigieburn, was mutually called off halfway through the last quarter due to wild weather. Despite the game being technically unfinished, the 79-point Hawk lead at the end of play seems enough to count towards Hawthorn's winning record.
6. Not since 2004, when Saverio Rocca kicked 49 goals, has a North Melbourne player kicked more goals than the Hawks' leading goal-kicker in a season. While the Hawks have built one of the most potent forward lines of the last decade, the Roos are hunting their next goal-kicking key forward after the departure of Drew Petrie, who has won five of their last eight club goal-kicking awards.
IT'S A BIG GAME FOR …
Ricky Henderson (Hawthorn): Having snuck under the radar in his arrival at the Ricoh Centre, Henderson was recruited from the Adelaide Crows, where he spent eight years and played 90 games in a variety of roles. Signed as a delisted free-agent, Henderson faces an important JLT Series where he will be keen to cement his name in coach Alastair Clarkson's plans.
Majak Daw (North Melbourne): Despite being recognised league-wide as having enormous talent, Daw is yet to assert himself as a certainty in the Roos' best 22. Entering his fifth year on the list, Daw will be determined to make 2017 the year that he becomes a consistent selection at AFL level. Playing the last five games for North and kicking four goals in their elimination final loss to Adelaide, the Sudanese-born forward finished the 2016 year off well, giving every indication that his step up is very much imminent.
