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Hawthorn are wary of a young Richmond ruckman granted his opportunity by injury to a key teammate.
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson is wary not to simply expect his in-form ruckman Ben McEvoy to dominate the centre bounce and stoppage contests against Richmond at the MCG on Sunday.
Clarkson said it would be dangerous for the Hawks to under-estimate 204cm young Tiger Ivan Soldo who has been called up to replace injured No.1 big man Toby Nankervis.
"We don't look at them as being undermanned. That Soldo has just been waiting for the big Nank to get injured. I think this is probably the first game he has missed in the three years he has been at Richmond," he said.
"We've been impressed with him playing at VFL level. He's a big unit and he gets his chance on Sunday. So, we're not thinking just because Nankervis is out that we're going to get a huge advantage in the ruck. It's going to be a significant contest."
Clarkson said recalling dumped former skipper Jarryd Roughead after five goals in the VFL last week would have disrupted the Hawks line-up, but he reaffirmed his belief that the experienced key forward may still be back in the AFL in the second half of the season.
"He played some good footy, but so did the guys who played his role. We could've brought him back this week, but it would unbalance our side or we would have to take out one of the younger guys," Clarkson said.
And the Hawks coach scoffed at a suggestion from former North Melbourne great Wayne Carey that Hawthorn played a boring style to beat GWS last round.
"You have to understand, we lost three games where we were in front halfway through the last quarter and we didn't want it to be a fourth. So, if we could use a strategy to deny the opposition the ball, we mightn't have scored too much but neither did the opposition," he said.
"Sometimes the most exciting games and the ones fans love the most are the ones that are pretty close and both teams are in it right to the end. In terms of the competition, that's what the AFL wants, that any team on any given week is a chance to win."
