North Melbourne’s planning for his or her AFL match towards Hawthorn will embrace the James Sicily rule.
That is, do not kick it to him.
The Hawks skipper will return from his three-match suspension on Sunday at Marvel Stadium and the important thing defender will likely be a pivotal participant.
All 4 Hawthorn wins this season have featured double-figure mark tallys for Sicily, together with a career-best 18 in spherical three when the Hawks beat the Kangaroos at Launceston.
Sicily is without doubt one of the sport’s greatest intercept marks and regardless of the Hawks sitting sixteenth on the ladder, he’ll characteristic in All-Australian choice discussions.
“He’s a damned good player and if we keep kicking the ball to him, he’ll probably keep getting it,” mentioned Kangaroos coach Brett Ratten.
“If we could maybe not kick it to him, that would be a start.
“He offers Hawthorn an actual weapon again there … we’ll must watch out of him.”
With Sicily out of the side, Hawthorn have lost their past three games.
But the Kangaroos are on a 14-game losing streak and had a terrible start last Sunday on the way to a 62-point belting from Geelong.
They also lost Griffin Logue to a knee reconstruction, while Jy Simpkin (concussion) and Flynn Perez (knee) were sidelined as well.
“We’re nonetheless looking for that four-quarter consistency and it seems like we are saying that almost all weeks,” Ratten mentioned.
“How can we be constant in video games – whether or not we’re controlling the ball or not – they do not have to attain.”
The Kangaroos dropped Hugh Greenwood and Charlie Lazzaro, while Jackson Archer, the son of club great Glenn, will play his first game this season.
Liam Shiels is also back to play against his old side, with George Wardlaw, Curtis Taylor and Josh Goater the other inclusions.
Cameron Zurhaar will play despite nursing a bruised heel.
“We’ve simply sorted him just a little bit. He’ll play this week, for certain,” Ratten said.
Luke Breust and Max Ramsden will also return for the Hawks, with Breust back after suffering a bruised larynx in the round-16 loss to Carlton.
Coach Sam Mitchell had been unsure before Friday’s training whether Breust would be ready in time.
“HIs voice continues to be a bit iffy … we would have a ‘yell-off’, see how far he can yell. The bruising has come down, however his voice continues to be scratchy,” Mitchell mentioned.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
