BATTING deep through the midfield has been a vital part of Hawthorn’s success in recent years.
 
With the likes of Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis leading the way – and complemented by emerging stars such as Liam Shiels, Isaac Smith and Billy Hartung – the Hawks’ engine room contains a wealth of talent.
 
But it will face a stern challenge tonight from the Adelaide Crows, who have their own star-studded on-ball brigade.
 
Winning the midfield battle is always crucial, and Assistant Coach Brett Ratten is expecting the Crows’ ball winners to prove more than a handful.
 
“Trying to take ground on the opposition and winning the ball in close will be pretty important,” he said.
 
“When you look at (Patrick) Dangerfield, (Scott) Thompson, (Rory) Sloane… those types around the ball, they get their hands on the footy.
 
“The midfield will be a big part of the game.
 
“We know how important it is to make sure that we can nullify them and get our nose in front in that area.”
 
Winning the ball at stoppages and contested situations have been strengths for both teams this year.
 
The Hawks and Crows are both ranked in the top six clubs for contested possessions per game, clearances per game and centre clearances per game.
 
Dangerfield and Thompson both rank in the top ten players in the competition in those three categories, highlighting how important they are for the Crows.
 
Ratten said applying constant pressure to the Crows’ elite midfielders would be critical, and said ruckmen Jon Ceglar and David Hale would have important roles to play against Crows big man Sam Jacobs.
 
“Jacobs has been in really good form,” he said.
 
“He probably changed the game against Carlton (in Round 10), especially in that second quarter, to really give Adelaide first opportunity to win the ball at ground level.”
 
While the Hawks are among the competition’s best sides in a number of key statistical areas, Ratten said there was always room for improvement.
 
“Statistically we’ve tried to break down where we can improve… hopefully we can fine-tune a few things,” he said.
 
“That’s with the ball in our hands and with the opposition having the ball, there’s a couple of elements of our game we’re trying to improve and we know how important that is.”

Among the Hawks’ big improvers this season have been the likes of 20-year old Hartung and 21-year old Bradley Hill.

Averaging 21.2 disposals and 21 disposals per game respectively, the duo have commanded senior berths by stringing together consistent performances at AFL level.

The key to any good team is competition for spots, and with players such as Alex Woodward and Jonathan O’Rourke delivering week-in, week-out for VFL affiliate Box Hill, there are plenty of midfield options for the Hawks to call on.

"Woodward’s probably been the most consistent player at VFL level throughout this year,” Ratten said.
 
"He’s really finding the footy and winning around 30 possessions most weeks, so he’s really working hard.

“(O’Rourke) had a great performance at VFL level and has played some good games in the last few weeks.”

But breaking into the dual reigning premiers’ best 22 – with almost a full squad to choose from – is no easy task.

"Sometimes when you’ve got the likes of some of the players that are in Hodge, Mitchell, Lewis and these types – it’s hard to get a game, but they’re working very hard,” Ratten said.