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Find your frequency hereThe Coleman Medal contender Brereton believes should be dropped
Jaiden Sciberras • July 25th, 2025 8:00 pm
Hawthorn has leaped into the top four following a handy Thursday night win over the Blues, however their battles at selection table will continue to prove difficult.
The Hawks’ 24-point win over Carlton was an exhibition of their key forward stocks, with veteran Jack Gunston (three), young gun Calsher Dear (two) and the returning Mitch Lewis (two) controlling the contest from inside 50.
Despite playing out a majority of the season with a rather small attacking unit led by the likes of Gunston and Mabior Chol, the club found relative success, however given the performances of their returning stars in the absence of Chol, some may be unlucky to miss in the coming weeks and approaching September.
The importance of Chol cannot be understated - the Hawks utilise the forward as a highly capable secondary ruck option. Facing the Blues, coach Sam Mitchell opted to use midfielder Conor Nash as a backup option around the ground in Chol’s absence.
Given Nash's ability as a midfielder and the Hawks' faulter at the contest, Chol appears likely find his spot in the side rather comfortably given his flexibility in that role. With that in mind, one of Lewis, Gunston or Dear may have to give way when Chol returns from injury.
Considering Jack Gunston’s incredible return to an elite level, booting 45 goals to see him equal fifth in the Coleman race, the 33-year-old shouldn’t be at risk of losing his position… however Hawks legend Dermott Brereton thinks rather differently.
“The two vulnerable ones are – believe it or not – Jack Gunston and Calsher Dear,” Brereton told SEN’s Dwayne’s World.
“Gunston was brought in as a back up and he’s been awesome, (but) in a perfect world, you need a capable second ruckman because you don’t want Conor Nash to be doing your second ruck work.
“I think you need a capable second ruckman. Chol – he’s got his detractors, but they become less each day because he’s become so good for the Hawks.
“They bought Chol thinking he would fill a gap until Mitch Lewis regains his physical status, and maybe one or two of the others come on.
“They got something beyond their wildest dreams when they got him. They didn’t think he was going to be as good as he has.
“I think he is actually more than important for them, I think he is critical as a second ruck, because he is a big fella and he can jump as well.
“He is going to be better than 80 per cent of the second-string ruckman he comes up against, and he is capable up forward, so I think he wins his spot back when he is fit.
“Mitch Lewis, we saw his capabilities last night. It would fall down to one of the other two.
“Some Hawthorn people are probably saying, ‘you’re off your rocker!’ That’s my feeling on it; I think that Jack knows that he was brought in as insurance.
“Calsher’s been very good and he was fantastic last night but as I said, just take that exercise with a precaution, because he was playing on a four-game veteran.”
With the Crows, the Magpies and the Lions still to come, Hawthorn will need to nail their mix in the coming weeks to secure their spot in September football.
