Hawthorn has endured its worst start to a season in 54 years.
The Hawks’ 0-5 start is their most modest result since 1970 and has Sam Mitchell’s side languishing in 17th position with a percentage of 63.8.
In Round 5 they were demolished by the Suns on the Gold Coast, losing by 53 points in what was one of their bluntest performances under Mitchell.
Much has been said about the woes of the midfield unit so far in 2024. Without reigning best and fairest Will Day, who continues to work his way back from a foot stress fracture, the Hawks have looked bereft of confidence and attacking ideas.
While James Worpel can hold his head high for the most part, there hasn’t been much to write home about when it comes to wins in the Hawthorn engine room.
Jai Newcombe, who was runner-up to Day in the Peter Crimmins Medal last year, and Connor Nash, who finished third, have been well down on their 2023 output.
Despite their woes in winning seven games last year, the Hawks still managed to finish third in centre clearances across the competition through the emergence of Newcombe and Nash.
Yet in 2024, Mitchell’s team ranks bottom in this statistical category, at just 9.2 centre clearances per game. They’ll have to work it out swiftly, as this deficiency has limited their ability to maintain possession, evidenced by them sitting third bottom for total disposals.
With Newcombe and Nash seemingly down, the youngsters have struggled to step up and lend a much-needed hand. Cam Mackenzie has shown glimpses, Josh Ward has been in and out of the action and Henry Hustwaite has had limited chances.
In order to make some sense of the shortcomings, we’ve compared some 2023 Hawthorn midfield numbers to those of 2024.
(We are well aware Day has not played a game, but we’re including him to show how important he was in 2023. We have also included some other key stat winners in various areas).
Hawthorn’s 2024 midfield woes
Disposals
2023: Worpel (averaging 26) in 31st position, Day (25.5) in 34th, Newcombe (25.1) in 38th and Nash (24) in 48th were all in the top 50 for average disposals over the course of 2023.
2024: Worpel (25) sits 36th, Newcombe (19.4) is 105th, Nash (18.2) is equal 137th, while Karl Amon (22.6) is 63rd with the second best average at the club.
Contested possessions
2023: Worpel (12.4) in equal 15th and Newcombe (11.3) in 23rd were well up the charts for contested possessions, sitting within the top 25, while Day (9.3) in 54th and Nash (9.2) in 55th were just outside 50.
2024: Worpel (12.6) is equal 14th, Newcombe (10.2) is 41st and Nash (10) is 44th this year. Ruckman Lloyd Meek (9.3) is 4th at the Hawks and Massimo D’Ambrosio (7.8) is 5th.
Clearances
2023: Worpel (6.4) was 11th for average clearances last year, Newcombe (5.5) was 24th, Nash (4.7) was 36th and Day (4.2) was equal 54th.
2024: Worpel (5.6) is 29th, Newcombe (4.6) is equal 54th and Nash (4.4) is equal 59th. Meek (5.3) is 33rd overall in 2024.
Centre clearances
2023: Worpel (3) was equal 6th in centre clearances, Newcombe (2.6) was 14th, Nash (2.1) was 30th and Day (1.76) was 54th.
2024: Worpel (1.8) is equal 53rd, while Newcombe (1.2) and Nash (1.2) are equal 78th. Meek (2.6) is equal 19th.
Inside 50s
2023: Worpel (5.1) was 14th for inside 50s, Newcombe (4.4) in 30th, Day (4.3) in 32nd and Amon (4.1) in 40th.
2024: Worpel (6.6) is 3rd, Newcombe (3.6) is equal 81st and Nash (3.4) is equal 96th. Veteran Luke Breust (3.6) sits equal 78th in the league.
Score involvements
2023: Newcombe (6.4) was 31st, Worpel (5.5) was 76th and Day (5.3) 90th. Mitch Lewis (6.4) was 32nd overall for average score involvements.
2024: Worpel (5.4) is equal 99th, Nash (3.6) is equal 244th and Newcombe (3.4) is equal 266th. Dylan Moore (6.2) is equal 54th as Hawthorn’s top score involvement player.
Metres gained
2023: Amon (502) led the way for metres gained last year in 11th position, Worpel (387) was 70th, Day (379) was 78th and Newcombe (362) was 94th. James Sicily (439) was 34th overall.
2024: Amon (598) is 4th, Worpel (460) is 37th, Newcombe (298) is 147th and Nash (250) is equal 218th. Sicily (414) is 56th.
Tackles
2023: Nash (4.7) sat 48th for tackles, Newcombe (4.2) was 73rd and Worpel (4) was 84th.
2024: Nash (5.8) is equal 30th, Worpel (4.6) is equal 53rd and Newcombe (4.2) is equal 63rd.
The club’s co-vice captain Dylan Moore admitted that the playing group has not been at the standards required so far in 2024 and have made a commitment to each other to change things.
No doubt it has already been and will be a testing week on the training track, as both Moore and Mitchell alluded to, as they prepare for Sunday’s clash with the likewise listless North Melbourne.
The Hawks need to make a statement at Marvel Stadium and it all starts with the midfield.
