Normally (ie finals) Hawks line up with
B/ Birchall 193/91 - Lake 195/98 - Gibson 189/95
HB/ Hodge 186/89 - Stratton 189/91 - Spangher 195/96
This year I'd say they're going to use Frawley (193/94) as the CHB and move Stratton to the flank in place of Spangher. If so then the AA CHB in Rance is more than a match.
Burgoyne is usually also played a lot on the ball but I agree he does his best work as that rebounding defender.
While you have McIntosh as the Birchall clone I would say that Grimes is already there at 193/89.
The truth be told the only one we have that matches up to Gibson is Deledio (188/88) with the outside chance of Batchelor (188/88).
I really can't see Richmond not having Houli as the back pocket regardless of how it matches the Hawthorn model. They have used Mitchell (179/83) and Duryea (179/80) as a small defender and this matches up with Houli (180/84).
Hodge and Burgoyne are of course the guns in that backline and we really can't match them with Vlastuin, Petterd or Morris.
Vlastuin is very inexperienced when compared to Hodge as is Menadue compared to Burgoyne but as said the sizes at least match up.
Petterd could go either way but I would not be betting on a huge leap up from what he's shown already.
We hope that after his long overdue shoulder surgery that Morris comes back in even better form than his 2013 but it's only a hope, no matter how justified on logic.
Hunt (184/78) is the wild card and could even hold down a role similar to Hodge or Burgoyne of changing on-ball to HBF but it seems a bigger ask than what I expect of him.
Thus the match ups become
B/ Birchall 193/91 - Lake 195/98 - Gibson 189/95
Grimes 193/89 - Astbury 195/95 - Batchelor 188/87
HB/ Hodge 186/89 - Frawley 193/94 - Stratton 189/91
Morris 185/83 - Rance 194/96 - Vlastuin 187/86
always interesting to see how others percieve playrs in relation to one self. we dont agree but im willing to be won over.
imo grimes is nothing like birchall birchall is just a really tall quick hard running hbf with skill. where grimes is more of a shut down player. ncintosh has similar traits and is more a running player who can defend well when need be.
i think gibson so much like rance its not funny. dont let gibsons height get in the way of the role he performs redan.
on burgoyne he has played most of his footy across hb the last few seasons. hes also gone into the midfield when they have struggled. if i could have one hawthorn sml/med player it would be a younger burgoyne.
hodge is very much like our vlastuin better in the air imo.neither are quick but they read the play and intercept so well. same sortof siize same traits same attributes.imo and most will poh pooh me here but i think hodgey a suspect kick.
i could go on sphanger played a lot of games down back as a kpd depending on the make up of the opposition. me i really like schoenmakers i thought he was just starting to play good footy in fact had a good yr then injury struck.
batchelor is nothing like gibson ffs gibson is athletic agile has decent pace finds lots of ball runs and rebounds intercepts and helps his fellow tall defenders out and he plays much taller than he is.in fact holding down a key position quite well when asked.
anyway like is aid we disagree on most but it sure is good to get a differing opinion.
