Enjoying his footy more than ever, Hawthorn captain James Sicily insists his young, excitable teammates can “flick the switch” when needed.
After starting the season 0-5, Hawthorn have become the showtime Hawks as the likes of Jack Ginnivan and Nick Watson have thrived on the big stage to give them a shock chance of playing finals for the first time since 2018.
Their performances have been matching the bold celebrations and trash talk that reached a frenzied level during Hawthorn’s stunning 66-point demolition of reigning premiers Collingwood last Saturday.
Ginnivan, a Magpies premiership player last September, incensed his former club’s supporters after playing the best game of his career and then celebrating accordingly.
The 21-year-old kissed his Hawthorn jumper after kicking a goal, made a “goodnight” gesture to the camera, and then walked over to Collingwood’s cheer squad and celebrated right in front of them.
“A lot of these young guys feel really comfortable expressing themselves and being who they want to be in our environment, and that’s something we are really proud of,” Sicily said on Tuesday.
“We also know that when it’s time to work, we actually work.
“A lot of the young guys have a really strong work ethic and are able to flick the switch when it’s time to be really serious, but when it’s time to have joy and fun, particularly on offence, you want to express yourself and play with freedom.
“We do have the balance with that and that’s something that we need to continue to work on.”
Sicily, who has been managing a persistent shoulder injury, is enjoying being a leader in a team full of exciting young talent.
“Probably not, to be honest,” said Sicily when asked if he had ever enjoyed his footy more.
“”Maybe I was a little bit younger cracking into the team when the guys were on a roll (in 2015 when Hawthorn won a third-straight premiership).
“It’s pretty fun to be amongst it at the moment, playing a brand of footy that we’re happy with.”
Teenage excitement machine Watson was nominated for the Rising Star award after slotting a career-high three goals against Collingwood.
(Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Watson has become a member of Hawthorn’s self-described “mosquito fleet” with Ginnivan.
“I know Jack was loving it, especially against his old mob,” Watson said on Tuesday.
“It was a bit of fun but, as (Sicily) said we have our fun, but then we can put our heads down and get to work.”
Hawthorn have won seven of their past eight games, and 10 of their past 13, to be on the verge of an unlikely September appearance.
After winning the 2015 flag, the Hawks’ most recent finals appearances – 2016 and 2018 – ended in straight-sets exits.
“We don’t want to be the team that just limps into finals,” Sicily said.
“The opportunity of playing (in finals) is really good, but the understanding is we have heaps of work to do.”
Fremantle captain Alex Pearce and Sydney’s Tom Papley are unlikely to feature again before the AFL finals series after both suffered injuries.
The Dockers confirmed on Monday scans revealed Pearce suffered a new fracture in his left forearm, while Papley will be sidelined for four to six weeks with a medial ankle ligament injury.
Pearce was subbed out in their Melbourne clash after a knock to his surgically repaired arm resulted in a new fracture to his radius bone.
The 29-year-old defender had already spent four weeks on the sidelines recovering from a fracture in the same bone suffered against Gold Coast in round 15.
His absence is a hefty blow to Fremantle’s top-four aspirations with just five rounds left of the home-and-away season.
“Unfortunately, Alex has suffered another fracture of his left radius after an incident in the third quarter against Melbourne,” Fremantle football boss Joe Brierty said.
“It’s really disappointing for Alex who made such a strong return in the opening three quarters of the game.
“Our medical team will now consult specialists to consider the best intervention in collaboration with Alex and we will then have a better understanding of Alex’s return to play timeline.”
Papley’s injury comes as the ladder-leading Swans battle to find their form, having lost three of their past four games.
The 28-year-old was seen in a moonboot during Sydney’s two-point loss to the Brisbane Lions after twisting his right ankle when he fell in a second-quarter marking contest. Further assessment confirmed the extent of his injury.
Papley has kicked 30 goals across 18 games this season, sitting equal-second with Will Hayward for the Swans behind Joel Amartey’s 35.
Hayward will be a test to play against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday after also suffering an ankle injury. The forward was able to finish the match at the Gabba despite sustaining a lateral ankle sprain in the second term.
Sydney’s Tom Papley. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
Swans coach John Longmire all but admitted Papley was irreplaceable as a small forward who pinch hits in the midfield.
Former captain Luke Parker and star midfielder Isaac Heeney could be options to push deeper inside-50 while Papley recovers. “It’s like any any top-line player, you don’t automatically replace them with like for like,” Longmire said on Tuesday.
“We have to think through that and come up with a solution to that. We just have to adapt. Every team goes through some challenges at different times with key personnel missing.
“It’ll be our opportunity to make the most of that challenge now so it’s just part of football.”
Veteran defender Dane Rampe (calf) and forward Will Hayward (ankle) also suffered injuries at the Gabba, with their time on the sidelines still unclear.
Brisbane’s Harris Andrews will miss their derby with rivals Gold Coast after entering concussion protocols.
Andrews suffered a head knock during the final seconds of their Sydney match, having just minutes earlier returned to the field after successfully passing a concussion evaluation for a separate incident.
Port Adelaide assistant coach Josh Carr has distanced himself from the vacant West Coast senior job and brushed off speculation linking Ken Hinkley to the post.
A media report out of Perth on Monday suggested the Eagles have made long-time Power coach Hinkley one of their main targets to fill the hole left by Adam Simpson’s departure this month.
Carr dismissed the source of that story as unreliable, while also denying he or his management have spoken to West Coast about taking the reins.
“No, not at all,” Carr told reporters on Monday. “I’ve been really clear from probably this time last year that I’m here to stay in Adelaide and I’m not moving away from Adelaide any time soon.
“Everyone’s settled. I’ve moved a few times over the last few years and I’m fully entrenched at Port.”
But when pressed on whether that meant he would put geography ahead of his senior coaching ambition, Carr left some wiggle room. “Yeah, right now, definitely, yep,” he said.
Originally from Perth, Carr had two stints as a player with Port Adelaide, including the 2004 premiership, either side of four seasons with Fremantle.
His coaching career began with the Power in 2011 and included a short period as an assistant to Dockers coach Justin Longmuir, before his return to Alberton last year.
Carr pulled out of the race to land Richmond’s senior coaching role last August, with the Tigers later opting for Adem Yze.
Hinkley has faced fierce scrutiny throughout his 12th season in charge of Port Adelaide and is contracted until the end of next season.
The 57-year-old last week reiterated his desire to see Carr take over at the Power at some stage, amid speculation around a succession plan.
No such plan has been confirmed by the club. West Coast were dealt another blow last week when highly-touted Sydney assistant coach Dean Cox ruled himself out of the running for the Eagles job.
Cox was a champion player with West Coast and featured in the club’s 2006 premiership side, but is settled in Sydney with his family.
“It’s such a good working environment at the Swans, we feel we have built a strong list at the club and we have got a good foundation for success,” Cox said. “I’m really comfortable with the role I have at the club under John (Longmire).”
Interim coach Jarrad Schofield is among the candidates to take on the full-time Eagles role.
Ash Hansen, Jaymie Graham, Nathan Buckley, Brett Montgomery, Daniel Giansiracusa, Scott Burns and Andrew McQualter are among the many others who could also be in the running.
with AAP
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