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Rise of the Hawks
By Marc McGowan
Essendon thought Massimo D’Ambrosio was sticking around, on a modest one-year rookie contract.
The mid-season draftee fell out of favour under new Bombers coach Brad Scott in 2023, and did not play a senior match after round 13. But they wanted to retain him, based on the impressive glimpses he had shown.
The problem was Hawthorn liked D’Ambrosio even more.
Read Marc McGowan’s fascinating look at the rebuilding of Hawthorn under Sam Mitchell and Essendon under Brad Scott HERE.
Pleasant night at the ’G
How they line up
This is the second time in as many weeks that we get to see Hawthorn recruits Tom Barrass and Josh Battle take their place in defence. Bombers fans will be keen to see fireworks from a forward line containing Nate Caddy and Isaac Kako.
HAWKS
B: T.Barrass, B.Hardwick, M.D’Ambrosio
HB: J.Scrimshaw, J.Impey, J.Battle
C: D.Moore, C.Nash, J.Sicily (C)
HF: C.Macdonald, H.Morrison, N.Watson
F: J.Ginnivan, M.Chol, W.Day
FOLL: L.Meek, J.Ward, K.Amon
I/C: J.Weddle, J.Newcombe, C.Mackenzie, F.Maginness, S.Frost
BOMBERS
B: A.McGrath, B.McKay, J.Ridley
HB: M.Redman, Z.Reid, J.Prior
C: N.Martin, J.Caldwell, A.Roberts
HF: N.Caddy, K.Langford, A.Perkins
F: H.Jones, S.Draper, I.Kako
FOLL: N.Bryan, S.Durham, Z.Merrett (C)
I/C: E.Tsatas, B.Hobbs, D.Shiel, J.Gresham, X.Duursma
Big moment for Kako
Isaac Kako ahead of his Essendon debut.Credit: AFL Photos
Exciting youngster Isaac Kako has been handed his debut jumper – No.10 – by family in the MCG rooms. It was an emotional moment. Bombers fans will be up and about if Kako can hit the scoreboard early against the Hawks.
History backs the Bombers
Recent history: It might surprise a few, considering Hawthorn’s strong finish to last year, but Essendon holds a 4-1 advantage across their last five meetings. These two teams last met in March 2024 when the Bombers ran out 24-point victors. But that was before the Hawks got warm.
In a nutshell: Many see Hawthorn as a top four team after they set the competition alight at the back end of 2024. They backed up that belief with a big win against grand finalists Sydney at the SCG last week. Essendon are still considered a couple of seasons away from hitting their peak. Mind you, they do tend to start the seasons well.
At the selection table: The Hawks had to swing one change from their opening match. They brought in young midfielder Josh Ward to replace the injured James Worpel. The Bombers have handed first games to excitement machine Isaac Kako and Jaxon Prior.
What the coaches say:
Sam Mitchell: “The history between the two clubs is obviously significant, so a lot of Hawks fans, a lot of Bombers fans perhaps aren’t in love with each other too much.”
Brad Scott: “We’re thinking we’ve got a base now where we can go forward as quick as we possibly can. We’re not waiting. We think we’re in a good position.”
What the experts say: Thirteen of The Age’s 14 tipsters have landed on a Hawks victory. Caroline Wilson is the lone scribe tipping a Bombers upset.
Welcome to Friday night lights
Good evening, and thanks for joining us for a cracking night of footy. A new chapter is about to be written in one of the AFL’s great rivalries as Hawthorn and Essendon prepare to slog it out at the MCG – the 170th time these two teams have met. But don’t be fooled by the odds predicting an Hawks victory. We all thought Carlton was a certainty to beat Richmond on Thursday night, and we all know how that ended up. Sorry for the reminder, Blues fans.
