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No nice Hawks against Smith's Geelong

3 minute read

Hawthorn do not intend on giving Isaac Smith a nice welcome onto the MCG in the star Geelong recruit's first game against his former AFL team.

ISAAC SMITH of the Hawks.
ISAAC SMITH of the Hawks. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has declared there will be "no friendliness" towards Isaac Smith as the former Hawks star battles his former AFL teammates for the first time.

After a decorated AFL career in brown and gold, Smith made the move to Geelong - arguably Hawthorn's biggest rival - during the off-season.

A hero in three Hawks premiership wins, the 32-year-old has made an immediate impact at his new club, booting the match-winning goal in Geelong's thrilling one-point win against Brisbane last week.

Clarkson said it was not Hawthorn's job to make Smith comfortable in the Easter Monday match-up at the MCG.

"I think it's a little bit like when you're growing up as a kid and you're in the backyard playing against your brothers; you want to win," Clarkson told reporters on Sunday.

"I don't think there will be anything untoward towards Isaac, but I don't think there will be friendliness. He's wanting to win, and we're wanting to win.

"Whilst we're out there, and he's in different colours to ours, we'll be going really hard I'd imagine, and he'd be doing the same against us.

"He likes getting on the lip but that's common in AFL footy."

Collingwood received some criticism for their so-called nice approach to former teammate Adam Treloar when the Magpies played the Western Bulldogs in round-one.

"The danger is you have a premeditated approach to it; just let the players decide what they want to do," Clarkson said.

The Hawks' chances of securing an upset have been improved by the inclusion of livewire Chad Wingard for his first game of the year.

Wingard has recovered from a calf injury that has kept him out since February.

Tall forward Mitch Lewis also comes into Hawthorn's team, with Tim O'Brien and Oliver Hanrahan axed.

Geelong have made three changes, with Charlie Constable and Zac Guthrie both dropped and Gary Rohan suspended.

Mitch Duncan's inclusion will boost the Cats' midfield, while Chris Scott has pulled a selection surprise by picking teenager Max Holmes for his AFL debut.

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